Foot passenger ferry linking Vancouver, Nanaimo could be operating by sometime this summer

NANAIMO (NEWS 1130) –  The company behind a proposed foot passenger ferry between Vancouver and Nanaimo hopes it will finally be running by sometime this summer.

Island Ferry Services has been working on this for years, but says now it is closer than ever to coming a reality.

The service seems to be a priority for several hopefuls in the upcoming Nanaimo by-election, while the Port of Nanaimo says it has reached a 20-year lease with the operator.

The candidates are also calling on the provincial government to help fund the ferry’s launch.

The NDP’s Sheila Malcolmson says she has been working with Nanaimo mayor Leonard Krog in pushing for federal infrastructure funding set aside for ferries.

“Every party in the 2015 election supported a downtown Vancouver to downtown #Nanaimo passenger-only ferry run. I’ve been asking the federal government to support this positive investment that supports coastal jobs and economy,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

The BC Liberals’ Tony Harris has also been pushing for the service.

“As more and more people are commuting and travelling between Nanaimo and the Lower Mainland, the need for a foot passenger ferry between Nanaimo Harbour and Vancouver Harbour has never been greater. This idea has been talked about for too long and it’s time for action.”

Island Ferry Services says traffic between Nanaimo and Vancouver has nearly returned to pre-recession levels.

No specific date has been given for when the service might begin.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today