The fate of CFB EsquimaltB次元官网网址檚 Blue Boat service, which has been shuttling military and civilian defence employees between Colwood and Esquimalt military properties for years, has not been decided.
But there are concerns amidst rumours that the baseB次元官网网址檚 oldest operating vessels, which are more than 50 years old, might not be repaired and returned to Esquimalt harbour in the event they need servicing.
That prompted View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 council to write to Jos茅e Touchette, an Ottawa-based assistant deputy minister of the Department of National Defence, in November urging the department B次元官网网址渢o maintain a reliable level of blue boat service in the Esquimalt harbour, and ... that a timely replacement plan for the aging fleet is implemented to ensure the long-term viability of this regional service.B次元官网网址�
Spearheaded by View Royal Coun. John Rogers, but sent under a council banner, the letter was meant to show support for a service B次元官网网址渢hat makes a difference to those who are enabled by it,B次元官网网址� said View Royal Mayor Graham Hill. B次元官网网址淚t may indeed be something that is a privilege rather than a (right).B次元官网网址�
The letter was carbon-copied to CFB EsquimaltB次元官网网址檚 commander navy Capt. Craig Baines, the Capital Regional District board , the Township of Esquimalt and the City of Colwood.
B次元官网网址淐urrently no official decision has been made regarding the future of the Blue Boat service and its longer-term maintenance,B次元官网网址� navy Lt. Michael McWhinnie, base public affairs officer, said in a statement.
The primary role of the Blue Boats is not to ferry commuting personnel. The vessels act as a B次元官网网址渟huttle facilitating the internal movement of personnel between various defence properties adjacent to Esquimalt harbour,B次元官网网址� McWhinnie said.
Without it, hundreds of personnel living on the West Shore would be forced back on the gridlocked Trans-Canada and Island highways, an idea that has some people concerned.
The Blue Boat service is critical to keeping more people off the roads, said Dan Spinner, CEO of the WestShore Chamber of Commerce. B次元官网网址淎nd we hope that the base maintains it. ItB次元官网网址檚 an important contribution to the local and regional transportation system.B次元官网网址�
The vessels make 13 runs a day, Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., attracting a total daily ridership of about 800 passengers. Upwards of 9,000 passengers used the service in one month earlier this year.
An estimated 46 per cent of personnel are affected by the B次元官网网址淐olwood crawl,B次元官网网址� according to base data. There are more than 480 housing units at ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 Belmont Park, the largest military housing community on the South Island.
More traffic on clogged transportation corridors doesnB次元官网网址檛 bode well for B.C Transit buses already struggling to keep to their schedules.
B次元官网网址淏ecause of the increased congestion and construction weB次元官网网址檝e seen across the Capital Region, our buses have slowed down from 25 to 20 kilometres an hour,B次元官网网址�
Joanna Linsangan, B.C. TransitB次元官网网址檚 manager of public relations, said in a statement.
Given OttawaB次元官网网址檚 history of making decisions about the base without feedback on local issues that affect local communities, B次元官网网址渢hereB次元官网网址檚 always a concern with the Blue Boat disappearing,B次元官网网址� Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins said, adding this could happen if the government sees the service as an add-on and not valued for its contribution to the region or to hundreds of military and civilian defence commuters.
She plans to discuss the issue with CFB EsquimaltB次元官网网址檚 commander in the new year.
emccracken@vicnews.com
