Via

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1 June 8, 25 Gareth Rowlands Transit Manager District of West 75 7 th Street West, BC V7V 3T3 Via growlands@westvancouver.ca Dear Gareth, This letter is a follow up to the meeting we had on Dec 3 rd 24 at Horseshoe Bay terminal with yourself, Marnie Rusk (BC Ferries), Adam Holbrook (Bowen Island Municipal Transportation Committee chair) and myself in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ongoing timing issues regular commuters experience with the Express 257 Bus arriving late in Horseshoe Bay, by a matter of minutes/seconds, and passengers consequently missing the minute cut off time for purchasing their ferry ticket. At the meeting we discussed potential solutions and agreed that in cases where the bus was running a few minutes late both Translink and BC Ferries would communicate/work co-operatively to try and ensure that passengers were able to make their ferry connections. Unfortunately, there now seems to be no connection at all between transit drivers and the BC Ferries terminal. We ask that this poor situation be addressed immediately. There was also discussion of potentially altering the Express 257 bus schedule so that it is better aligned with Bowen Ferry departures. For the latter point, the Bowen Island Municipal Transportation Committee (BIMTAC) distributed an online survey for community input (pls see attached). We concede that the number of respondents was relatively small but the results and the submitted comments are still useful. Having reviewed the results we would like to make the following recommendations: That the 257 bus connection be scheduled so that they arrive 8- minutes before the minute cut off time, with the following schedules: Winter (M-F) BCF Depart BCF Cut-Off 257 Current Arrival Time Wait Time (min) Recommended Time /58 9/2 5: /69 9/ 6: /78 2/2 7: /89 2/ 8: 98 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC, VN G2 TEL: FAX: bim@bimbc.ca website:

2 Summer (M-F) BCF Depart BCF Cut-Off 257 Current Arrival Time Wait Time (min) Recommended Time /53 7/4 5: /634 34/ 6: /728 22/2 7: /89 32/2 8:3 Winter (Sat/Sun/Holidays) BCF Depart BCF Cut-Off 257 Current Wait Time (min) Recommended Arrival Time Time /53 42/7 5: /6 57/9 6: /78 46/2 7: /89 2/ 8: Summer (Sat/Sun/Holidays) BCF Depart BCF Cut-Off 257 Current Wait Time (min) Recommended Arrival Time Time /533 22/2 5: /634 34/ 6: /78 :6/32 7: /89 :32/ 8:3 Of equal concern is the departure of the 257 bus in the morning and the lengthy wait times for Bowen Passengers. We would like to ensure that the bus does not leave until the Bowen passengers have disembarked if the ferry is running a few minutes late, without leaving passengers waiting too long between ferry arrival and bus departure. It takes about minutes from the scheduled arrival time to when a foot passenger can get to the bus pickup point. Thus the morning waiting times should have minutes subtracted. Winter BCF Arrive 257 Depart Wait Time (min) Recommended Time /95 / Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC, VN G2 TEL: FAX: bim@bimbc.ca website:

3 Summer BCF Arrive 257 Depart Wait Time (min) Recommended Time To provide additional context for these recommendations, we direct your attention to a recent Metro in depth report on the cost burden of housing and transportation for residents of the region. ( North Shore residents have some the highest traveling costs because of the relatively lower access to transit in the region. This is exacerbated for Bowen Island residents who have to absorb the rising cost of ferry tariffs, and because the inconvenience of ferry transit connections leaves many with no options but to use their car. This issue of poor access to the frequent transit network for Bowen Islanders is also strongly supported by the community profile report published by My Health My Community this month ( nal.pdf). The Bowen Island profile shows that we have double the average transit commuting times than the average Metro commute. Our average Bowen Island transit commuter is spending over three hours commuting daily! Reducing the wait time for passengers at Horseshoe Bay is an easy way to have a positive impact on this figure. We believe that moving forward a comprehensive discussion needs to take place between TransLink, BC Ferries, The District of West and the B.C. Ministry of Transportation to discuss more integrated transportation strategies between BC Ferries and TransLink. The result would be improved convenience and more frequent use of transit, along with reduced need for costly ferry terminal infrastructure upgrade costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Sincerely, (ORIGINAL SIGNED) Councillor Melanie Mason Bowen Island Municipal Council cc: Honourable Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation Merilee Ashworth, Manager, Business Development & Contract Services, Translink Darin Guenette, Manager, Public Affairs, BC Ferries 98 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC, VN G2 TEL: FAX: bim@bimbc.ca website:

4 Q Peak hours: In a typical week, how often do you ride the 257 Horseshoe Bay/ Express Bus to Horseshoe Bay between 3pm and 6pm from the following destinations? Answered: 22 Skipped: From Downtown From North / 7

5 From West From other Metro Vancou... % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % Time 2 Times 3 Times 4 Times 5 Times 6 Times 7 Times Time 2 Times 3 Times 4 Times 5 Times 6 Times 7 Times Total From Downtown From North From West From other Metro destination (including YVR) 2 / 7

6 Q2 Off-peak hours: In a typical week, how often do you ride the 257 Horseshoe Bay/ Express Bus to Horseshoe Bay before 3pm or after 6pm from the following destinations? Answered: 9 Skipped: 3 From Downtown From North 3 / 7

7 From West From other Metro Vancou... % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % Time 2 Times 3 Times 4 Times 5 Times 6 Times 7 Times Time 2 Times 3 Times 4 Times 5 Times 6 Times 7 Times Total From Downtown 55.56% 5.% 33.33% 3 9 From North From West From other Metro destination (including YVR) 4 / 7

8 Q3 Horseshoe Bay arrival: Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements. Answered: 22 Skipped: Buses should be scheduled... Buses should be scheduled... Bus schedule should not b... % % 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% % Strongly disagree Disagree Neither disagree or agree Agree Strongly agree 5 / 7

9 Strongly disagree Disagree Neither disagree or agree Agree Strongly agree Total Buses should be scheduled to arrive minutes before the ferry cut-off time. 5.26% 42.% % 9 Buses should be scheduled to arrive 5 minutes before the ferry cut-off time. 4.29% 2 7.4% 2.43% % 8 4 Bus schedule should not be amended % 6.% 22.22% / 7

10 Q4 Other comments: Answered: 3 Skipped: 9 7 / 7