Capital Planning Update March 2024

As an essential public service, it is our job to keep people moving safely and reliably. We review our capital plan regularly to ensure it’s helping us achieve those goals. Inevitably, that means some tough decisions as we must work within our budget.

During this year’s annual review, we prioritized two main aspects of our capital investment plan:

1. The work required to ensure the maintenance and continued reliability of our infrastructure
2. The delivery of vessels to replace our aging fleet and meet the growing capacity demands of the communities we serve, and the replacement of berths required to support new vessel introductions.

As a result, we have had to defer or adjust the scope of some of our previously planned projects to work within available funds. For more on project impacts for Gabriola Island, please read on.

Although some adjustments have been made, our plans continue to include $356 million in capital investments this year, and approximately $2.2 billion over the next four years (Performance Term Six). We also plan to pursue additional funding opportunities that would allow us to re-evaluate capital expenditures before the end of the next performance term (March 31, 2028). We will keep you updated as we continue to re-evaluate.

What does this mean for Gabriola and Nanaimo Harbour terminal?

As we note above, we have prioritized the work required to ensure the maintenance and continued reliability of our infrastructure for Gabriola Island residents and travellers. As a result, uplands work at both Descanso Bay and Nanaimo Harbour terminals has been deferred for the foreseeable future.

The Nanaimo Harbour and Gabriola Island terminal projects will focus on improvements to the marine infrastructures at both terminals. This includes the addition of a lay-by berth at Nanaimo Harbour that will enhance the safety and efficiency of vessel docking, and reduce weather cancellations of the second vessel on this route.

Work also continues for the introduction of the two new fully-electric Island Class vessels to the route in 2027.

We have heard community concerns around safety at the terminals, and while no uplands work is planned for the terminals, we are committed to staying connected with our partners including Islands Trust, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, local transit and other stakeholders, to work on operational improvements for vehicle staging, lighting, traffic control and communication.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to balance the work required to ensure the maintenance and continued reliability of our infrastructure.