Salt Spring Island Community Page

This spring and summer we’re getting back out with our Ferry Advisory Committees and the communities we serve. With a focus on resetting conversations, we’ll be looking at what we’ve heard from FACs and communities over the past two years. We’ll work together to:

• Review the list of feedback we’ve received from each community
• Prioritize the feedback we can action
• Establish criteria that will help a new Community Prioritization Panel make recommendations about what’s most important across the ferry system

This work will result in a prioritized list of action items for each community. From there, a Community Prioritization Panel (CPP) will work to consolidate these items into a prioritized list for the whole BC Ferries system.

All FAC chairs have been invited to participate in the CPP and the panel will deliver a final public report by October 31, 2024. This report will help guide how BC Ferries reviews and makes decisions on changes needed to improve service and experience for customers, and also help inform long-term decisions that align with the ongoing Charting the Course vision process.

Timelines

• May: Virtual meetings with all Ferry Advisory Committees
• June/July: In-person community workshops

Dates and details for community workshops will be posted to this page shortly.

New Safety and Security Measures

In order to create a safe and respectful environment for all, BC Ferries has implemented changes based on recommendations made in its safety review, including:

• Establishing safety and security policies for public events that align with WorkSafe BC requirements.
• Rolling out a new mandatory respectful workplace policy and training across the company, including training in Prevention of Violence in the Workplace for all BC Ferries representatives who will take part in community events.
• Establishing plans and templates to support safety and security assessments in advance of FAC and community meetings.
• Establishing new processes for public events, including the request for participants to RSVP ahead of time, new sign-in requirements, and a new Code of Conduct that will apply to all public events. We’ll provide more information on what you can expect to see at events in an upcoming post to this page.
• Updating the Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct to ensure the correct foundations are in place to support a mutually respectful and productive relationship with FACs.

Stay Informed

We’ll be providing updates to this page in the coming weeks, click the ‘Stay Informed’ icon on the right hand side of the page to receive updates to your email inbox.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

The BC Ferries Community Relations Team

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 Salt Spring 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 Fulford terminal?

As we note above, we have prioritized the work required to ensure the maintenance and continued reliability of our infrastructure for Salt Spring Island travellers.

Fulford terminal project planning has been deferred, but work continues on providing increased capacity for Salt Spring Island travellers with:

• Additional peak season capacity between Fulford Harbour and Swartz Bay
• Berth infrastructure upgrades to support the introduction of two new Island Class vessels on Route 6 in 2027, which will bring increased capacity and frequency for Salt Spring Island travellers.

This increase in capacity and frequency also means moving vehicles through the terminals and off the road ways more efficiently. We will also continue to stay connected with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Islands Trust, and BC Transit to work on operational improvements for vehicle staging, traffic control and intermodal connections.

What does this mean for Crofton and Vesuvius Terminals?

Crofton and Vesuvius terminal projects will focus on the berth replacements in their original location to ensure the continued reliability of our infrastructure and to prepare the terminals for the introduction of two new Island Class vessels in 2027.

Understanding the effects of peak season traffic on our neighbours, we will continue to utilize all traffic control measures to minimize impacts. The increase in capacity and frequency offered by the Island Class vessels will also mean being able to move vehicles through the terminal and off the roadways more efficiently. In addition, we continue to look for all opportunities to effectively manage vehicle capacity at the terminals. This includes increasing vehicle space at Vesuvius terminal with the berth replacement project, by providing widened lanes on the trestle, to help move more vehicles off the roadway.

We will also continue to stay connected with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Municipality of North Cowichan, and BC Transit to work on operational improvements for vehicle staging, traffic control and intermodal connections.

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

Crofton and Vesuvius Ferry Terminals - Timber Trestle Repair Work Next Phases

The initial work to extend the life of the timber trestles at the Crofton and Vesuvius terminals is now complete and the next phase of day-time work is scheduled to start Friday, November 10, 2023.

Work will be completed on the timber deck boards and is expected to increase normal noise levels around the terminals between sailings on the following days:

• Crofton and Vesuvius Terminal: Friday, November 10, 2023
• Vesuvius Terminal: Tuesday, November 14 – Friday, November 17, 2023

No operational impacts are expected during this work and all efforts will be made to minimize the noise for our neighbours.

Final project phase

The project's final phase is expected to take place at the end of November. To minimize the impact on operations, work is scheduled to take place overnight and will include paving at both Crofton and Vesuvius terminals. General construction noise is expected during this time. Once the dates are confirmed, a service notice will be issued.

BC Ferries would like to thank our customers and neighbours for their patience and understanding as we complete this necessary work.

For more information or traffic updates, please follow @BCFerries on Twitter or visit bcferries.com.

Now is the time to shape the vision of the coastal ferry service in BC.

Transportation, transit and ferry systems around the world are under pressure resulting from the pandemic, population growth, climate change, inflation and other factors. BC’s coastal ferry system is no exception, and BC Ferries is responding with actions to address current operational issues. We are also embarking on a long-term transformative journey to reshape our coastal ferry services in response to the evolving needs of the communities we serve.

We invite you to participate in Charting the Course, an initiative that aims to define what is needed to keep people, goods, and services in coastal communities connected and moving through to 2050 and beyond.

Hearing from you is an important part of this initiative to help us build a more sustainable and resilient ferry system. The first phase of engagement is open until November 28. Learn more and participate here: https://www.bcferriesprojects.ca/bc-ferries-charting-the-course

Extended Peak Season Service
Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island) – Swartz Bay (Victoria)
August 25 – September 30, 2023

As part of our ongoing commitment to enhanced service on our Swartz Bay (Victoria) – Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island) route, BC Ferries is pleased to announce an extension of our Peak Season schedule until Saturday, September 30.

The schedule will provide 10 daily round trips throughout the month of September, maintaining extra sailings to help meet demand on this busy route, and synchronizing with BC Transit bus services to and from Fulford Harbour.

*excluding Sundays

Schedules are available at bcferries.com/routes-fares/schedules.

High vehicle and foot passenger travel is expected on August 26 & 27

Participants of the Cycle of Life Tour - which sees riders cycle 200 km through Saanich Peninsula, Cowichan Valley and Salt Spring Island - will be travelling on select routes on August 26 and 27.

Busy vehicle, bicycle and passenger travel volumes are expected on these routes as a result of this event during the sailings noted below.

Busy Sailings on August 26:

9:50 am departing Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay

11:00 am departing Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay

2:20 pm departing Crofton (Vancouver Island) - Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island)

Busy Sailings on August 27:

11:10 am departing Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island) to Swartz Bay (Victoria)

12:50 pm departing Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island) to Swartz Bay (Victoria)

We recommend arriving at the terminal as early as possible and being prepared for possible sailing waits if you intend to travel during these times.

For the most up-to-date sailing and departure information, follow us on Twitter @BCFerries(External link), or visit bcferries.com(External link) for further information.

Fulford Harbour Ferry Terminal
Timber Trestle Repair Work
May to July 2023

Update: Friday, July 28, 2023

The repairs to the holding compound timber trestle at the Fulford Harbour terminal are now complete.

We would like to thank our neighbouring communities and passengers for their patience and understanding throughout the course of this work.

BC Ferries has been repairing the holding compound timber trestle at the Fulford Harbour terminal. Construction began May 23 and is expected to be completed later this month.

This work addresses important safety upgrades and will take place Monday to Friday between the hours of 10:00 am and 8:30 pm for the most part. We have chosen these hours to mitigate disruption to important early morning commuter sailings, however, during this time customers should expect additional weekday congestion at Fulford terminal.

Overnight work is necessary, starting July 10 between the hours of 9:30 pm and 5:45 am, for a one-week period to avoid further operational impacts to the terminal during the completion of construction work underneath the trestle at the entrance of the holding compound. Major noise disruptions are not expected from this work and all efforts will be made to minimize construction sound levels for our neighbours. Further information will be provided through updated Service Notices. Stay tuned to this page for further updates.

There will be a reduction in the terminal vehicle holding capacity to facilitate construction activities, while traffic patterns may also be modified. Additional traffic control will be in place along Fulford-Ganges Road to assist with managing overflow traffic on the roadway.

BC Ferries asks all travellers to follow the direction of staff, signage, and traffic control attendants and encourages foot passengers to arrive earlier than usual for their intended sailing.

We apologize for any inconvenience this work may cause. BC Ferries would like to thank its customers and neighbours for their patience and understanding as we complete this necessary work.

Today marks National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day we celebrate and recognize the diverse cultures, traditions and immeasurable contributions of First Nations, Inuit, & Métis across Canada. Indigenous Peoples are the traditional stewards of the rivers, lakes, land & sea where we are privileged to live and work.

#NIPD2023 serves as an opportunity to learn and deepen our understanding of the Indigenous cultures throughout Canada.

• Learn more about Indigenous Peoples land, languages, history and culture: https://maps.fpcc.ca/
• The First Peoples’ map highlights BC's Indigenous language regions, artists & artworks, place names & landmarks: https://native-land.ca/
• Native Land is an app that allows users to map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages: https://ow.ly/1pUt50OPX10
• Use the @BCGovNews map to find events happening in your community celebrating National Indigenous History Month: https://ow.ly/fif850OPX4l
• Learn more about the history, cultures, and experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada: https://ow.ly/mJ4250OPX91

Learn about National Indigenous People’s Day and how you can participate in celebrating their culture and heritage.

#BCFerries remains committed to fostering meaningful relationships with the Indigenous communities we serve. We recognize the importance of collaboration and partnership as we work toward a future of mutual respect, reconciliation and inclusivity.

On Thursday, March 30, 2023, the Quinsam will be conducting a required life raft exchange, which will take place between 10:30 pm, March 30, and 5:00 am, March 31.

This work will involve a crane and additional lighting at the terminal for most of the night and may incur some noise. All efforts will be made to minimize the level and duration of the noise created during the night work, however, at times the sound levels may be noticeable for nearby residents.

BC Ferries would like to thank our customers and neighbours for their patience and understanding while these necessary nighttime activities are completed. For traffic updates or more information, follow us on Twitter at @BCFerries, the BC Ferries App or visit our website at www.bcferries.com.