BC Ferries says safety and travel certainty are among the top concerns for Denman and Hornby residents about ferry travel.
The ferry line held in-person engagement sessions over the weekend to hear from the public about the Denman East terminal project, summer schedules and other topics.
They say 170 people from Denman Island came to the engagement session Friday, while 90 attended the Hornby session on Saturday. That is in comparison to initial engagement sessions held in November 2017, where only 20 Denman Island residents attended.
BC Ferries says they “are grateful for the input [they] received.” Top concerns from Denman Island included the following:
- The impact of Hornby Island-bound traffic on safety and quality of life for Denman Island residents
- The desire for a direct Buckley Bay – Hornby Island route
- The desire to retain as many trees as possible and the rural feel of the Denman East terminal
Concerns from residents of Hornby Island included:
- The importance of travel certainty for residents, and the desire for priority for medical travel and school children
- The desire for Hornby residents to have equal shared deck space with Denman residents on the sailings between Denman Island and Buckley Bay
- The desire to proceed with the Denman East terminal project
“People were concerned that some customers might be speeding when they’re trying to get to the Hornby ferry or if they’re coming off Hornby Island, they might be speeding to get to the Denman Ferry,” said public affairs executive director Deborah Marshall.
If you were unable to attend the in-person meetings, BC Ferries says they will be responding to online engagement until June 9.
They say they will be making a “what we heard” report this summer and will decide what they will be doing next in the fall including for plans to the Denman East terminal project.
