A huge volume of additional ferry traffic won't be diverted from the North Shore to Tsawwassen, according to B.C.'s transportation minister.
Todd Stone said Wednesday the provincial government "has no interest in canceling or seeing the cancellation of the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay run."
His statement came just a day after it was revealed B.C. Ferries would undertake a major review of its service to Vancouver Island, including the possibility of eliminating the Horseshoe Bay-Nanaimo run and diverting that traffic to Tsawwassen.
Reaction to news that ferry traffic could be headed to South Delta was swift and negative from many quarters around the province, including ferry users who
took to social media to lambaste the plan.
Now that scenario, which more than likely wouldn't have gone over well with Delta residents, is off the books.
"I have got to give minister Stone absolute 100 per cent marks. He turned on a dime and when he heard and looked at it, it shows he understands his portfolio and he understands the highway system, not only here but in Horseshoe Bay," said Mayor Lois Jackson.
"I am just delighted that he made such a decisive statement. I am more than thankful and very happy about his decision."
The major routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island account for 80 per cent of B.C. Ferries' revenue and subsidize the money-losing minor routes. However, B.C Ferries notes $200 million in upgrades are required to Horseshoe Bay's transfer decks, funding that may have to come from increased fares if further efficiencies aren't found.
Saying an extensive review involving community consultation would have taken place for up to two years before any decision was made, B.C Ferries president and CEO Mike Corrigan told the Optimist, prior to Stone's surprise announcement, that many options would have been considered, including diverting all or just some of the Nanaimo traffic to Tsawwassen.
Noting that billions will be needed on capital infrastructure for all the major routes in the next dozen years, he added factors that would have been considered included better access via the new South Fraser Perimeter Road.
Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington warned that if the idea had moved forward, traffic through the George Massey Tunnel would have got much worse, while the four-lane SFPR, which was designed to be a truck route to serve Deltaport, would have reached capacity far more quickly. She also warned additional road infrastructure improvements would have been needed here to accommodate the extra volume.
According to B.C. Ferries, the total number of vehicles going from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay, or vice versa, in 2013 was over 1.1 million.
