North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas is completely right to be pressuring BC Ferries for some answers on the Crofton ferry terminal redevelopment.
COVID delays were on thing, but there’s no reason now why the corporation is dragging its feet on the project. It makes no sense that attempts to even organize a meeting have been futile.
As most will recall, plans were left on the dock during the pandemic just as the many proposals had been narrowed down to a couple with the best balance of features.
The community deserves to know when one of the designs will officially be chosen and when the actual work will begin.
Since it’s not even at the construction stage yet, you know that means several years before we’ll see something finalized. So it’s best to at least move things along before much more time passes.
The traffic situation on Chaplin Street leading to the terminal is already horrendous at the best of times and not likely to get any better until a solution is found through the redevelopment. The boat launch area, waterfront park and parking lot are all included.
The whole waterfront area just needs to be reworked so it functions better for everyone and it all starts with how BC Ferries is going to alleviate the increasing traffic flow going between Crofton and Vesuvius Bay on Salt Spring Island.
In the meantime, Douglas has also been voicing concerns with Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming and Nanaimo-North Cowichan MLA Doug Routley about the long delay.
Hopefully, his persistence will pay off and we’ll see some action very soon. It’s not getting any cheaper to do this type of work so there’s really no benefit from being complacent. It’s already been approved and there’s no need for any further discussion, other than to select a plan.
It’s kind of reminiscent of other projects around the area that have long been in the works, but not yet implemented. A walkway along the Chemainus waterfront to rival the Crofton SeaWalk comes to mind and people are anxiously awaiting when, or if, that will actually happen.