The B.C. Conservatives unveiled a bold transportation proposal in Nanaimo yesterday, calling for a 17-kilometre ferry route from Gabriola Island to Richmond’s Sea Island and a fixed-link bridge from Vancouver Island to Gabriola.
John Twigg, the party’s director of policy and communications, told the News Bulletin the marine transpiration model in British Columbia is broken and needs an overhaul.
“The existing systems have become dysfunctional,” he said. “It’s so obvious.”
If realized, the plan would see the construction of a bridge from Nanaimo to Gabriola Island via Duke Point Highway and a new ferry terminal north of Gabriola’s Silva Bay.
A second ferry terminal and a causeway would be built beside a jetty near Richmond’s Sea Island. There would be a new highway and a SkyTrain extension linking the terminal ferry terminal with Vancouver International Airport.
The two new terminals would result in a 17-kilometre ferry crossing between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. The ferry service would be designed for foot passengers, car and truck traffic and the crossing would take approximately 30 minutes, according to Twigg, who said the service could also operate around the clock.
“This run could go 24 hours, which is something I know the business community would like,” he said.
Although the Conservative party has not provided an estimate of how much its plan would cost, Twigg said should the idea come to fruition, it would dramatically improve the way British Columbians travel, create jobs and boost economies on both sides of the Strait of Georgia.
“It would make a major change to the economy, a positive change because a shorter link would improve the flow of goods and services and people,” he said. “This would also take pressure off of Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen, which are congested now.”
The idea of a bridge to Gabriola is nothing new and has been met with resistance from some of the island’s residents. Twigg said he understands their concerns but believes the needs of the few shouldn’t outweigh the needs of the many in this case.
“I know it is contentious but it has a lot of benefits for the people of Gabriola and the region and the province,” he said. “The public good and province building should outweigh the minorities who oppose it.”
With no official leader, Twigg admits his party has a slim chance of winning the upcoming election, but hopes the proposal will get the other parties talking about transportation solutions for Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.
“By presenting this idea, it is quite possible that whoever wins this election will say ‘you know this is one of the best ideas that came out of the campaign, let’s do it,’” he said.
There are no B.C. Conservative Party candidates in any of Nanaimo’s three ridings.
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Twitter: @npescod