6319 replies to this topic

[JohnsonStBridge]

Here are some details on the Sidney terminal lease agreement and cost sharing from the Town's Financial Plan. Elsewhere it has been quoted the lease payments and property taxes received from WSF amount to ~$250,000.

 

"The Town renewed its lease agreement with Washington State Ferries (WSF) in 2011, for a term of up to 35 years. During lease negotiations, a lifecycle costing study of the terminal was undertaken. It was agreed by the parties that annual lease payments by WSF were to be based on 80% of the lifecycle cost of the terminal assets. The Town should be setting aside funds each year to fulfil its own 20% obligation. This cost-sharing is based on the fact that there are financial benefits of the ferry route on both sides of the border, and therefore both parties should be responsible for a share of the replacement of the assets.

 

The ferry terminal property generates taxes each year; the municipal portion of these taxes is approximately $80,000. It was envisioned during lease development that the Town would use these tax funds generated from the terminal to fund its own contributions to the Ferry Reserve; that way, the property would continue to self-fund. Reallocating these funds away from general revenue does have an impact on the taxes remaining for other purposes.

 

It is proposed that the first contribution to the Ferry Reserve begin with a $50,000 allocation in 2020. This would increase to $75,000 the following year, and by inflation in each year thereafter. The sufficiency of the reserve contributions will be reviewed periodically, to ensure that replacement funds are in place when required. "

[max.bravo]

Interesting, thanks for posting that.

[Victoria Watcher]

This cost-sharing is based on the fact that there are financial benefits of the ferry route on both sides of the border, and therefore both parties should be responsible for a share of the replacement of the assets.

^ if that is true on this end then it is also likely true in the other end. do we pay to upkeep their terminal too?

this agreement might forget that only one party has fare revenue.

[max.bravo]

This cost-sharing is based on the fact that there are financial benefits of the ferry route on both sides of the border, and therefore both parties should be responsible for a share of the replacement of the assets.

^ if that is true on this end then it is also likely true in the other end. do we pay to upkeep their terminal too?

this agreement might forget that only one party has fare revenue.

maybe the city of Anacortes cost shares the terminal costs with WSF on the other side. Anacortes and WSF are separate entities.

[Victoria Watcher]

maybe.  it just seems that the explanation in the article is a bit simplistic.

 

you might say the mcdonalds or the thrifty foods in sidney is good for sidney so they will pay some of your rent.  they both attract more customers than the ferry. 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 22 February 2021 - 09:11 AM.

[JohnsonStBridge]

WSF leases the Anacortes terminal from the Port of Anacortes. Sidney (or any Canadian entity) doesn't contribute any funding to the run other than passenger fares. They 'self fund' their portion of terminal costs paid by property taxes from WSF. 

[Victoria Watcher]

I will ask my municipality to self fund improvements to my property with my taxes.

[Victoria Watcher]

As the COVID-19 pandemic sunk passenger numbers and revenues, BC Ferries would have lost $80.5 million by Dec. 31, 2020, had it not received support from taxpayers.

 

BC Ferries released its third quarter results Monday (Feb. 22), for the fiscal year ending on March 31.

 

These results show that BC Ferries received $308 million in December 2020 through the Safe Restart Program, a joint federal-provincial program designed to help provinces and territories safely restart their economies. BC Ferries counted $154.8 million of this funding toward revenues, leaving the company with net earnings of $74.3 million year-to-date as of Dec. 31, 2020.

 

 

 

 

https://www.vicnews....quarter-report/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 22 February 2021 - 03:01 PM.

[pontcanna]

2 women fined $920 for refusal to wear masks, abusive behaviour on BC Ferries vessel

February 24, 2021

Two BC Ferries passengers are facing more than $900 in fines for allegedly flouting COVID-19 health orders and acting belligerently towards staff.

Nanaimo RCMP were called to the Departure Bay ferry terminal just after midnight on Sunday as the Queen of Cowichan ferry was arriving from Horseshoe Bay.

Two ferry passengers were escorted off the boat and arrested for mischief, public intoxication and causing a disturbance after allegedly refusing to follow COVID-19 protocols while on board.

 

More: https://vancouverisl...essel-1.5322841

 

[Rob Randall]

How intoxicated? Springsteen intoxicated or Tiger Woods intoxicated?

[Victoria Watcher]

turns out springsteen wasn't intoxicated.

 

 

 

 

While The Boss did plead guilty to taking a drink offered to him by a fan, the charges of DWI and reckless driving were dismissed as federal prosecutors said he wasn't sufficiently drunk to warrant the charges. Springsteen's blood-alcohol content at the time of his arrest was only .02, whereas New Jersey’s legal limit indicating intoxication for driving is .08.

 

https://www.vanityfa...-shots-500-fine

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 February 2021 - 05:47 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

BC Ferries is launching new, less expensive and more efficient fare options for routes between Vancouver Island and the mainland.

 

The ferry service says customers travelling for essential purposes are now able to take advantage of the new saver fare – the corporation’s “most affordable fare” available on select, less-busy sailings year-round. Saver fares range from $49 to $73.70 and include a free reservation.

 

BC Ferries also announced a new prepaid fare option, giving customers the ability to book and pay for their travel in advance.

 

 

 

 

https://www.vicnews....d-fare-options/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 March 2021 - 10:08 AM.

[JohnsonStBridge]

Nice to see the option, it has been a long time coming. $5 change fee, $20 cancellation fee apply and cancellations can't be made on the day of departure.

[Victoria Watcher]

Nice to see the option, it has been a long time coming. $5 change fee, $20 cancellation fee apply and cancellations can't be made on the day of departure.

 

we have been waiting quite a few years for the variable pricing model.  a computer upgrade was part of the wait i think.  

 

 

 

2014:

 

 

BC Ferries moving to online booking, variable fares

 

Prices will be discounted for lower-demand times, fee for reservations phased out as web-based system is installed

 

https://www.saanichn...variable-fares/

 

BC Ferries CEO Mike Corrigan said the project will cost $10-15 million, but based on the experience of other systems, it will increase ridership and reduce costs.

 

“It’s a variable priced booking system that’s used by golf courses, hotels, airlines,” Corrigan said. “It’s the way the world is moving. Depending how far in advance you book, what restrictions you’re willing to put on yourself, and when you want to play, stay or travel, you’re going to get a different price.”

 

 

 

 

 

they should definitely have a driving range on the ferries.

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 March 2021 - 11:13 AM.

[Matt R.]

I wish they would just expand the existing Experience card program rather than reinventing the wheel.

Matt.

[todd]

^^Can't stand ya.

[Mike K.]

All sailings are cancelled for the rest of the day due to today’s wind storm:

5:00 pm departing Swartz Bay
7:00 pm departing Tsawwassen
7:00 pm departing Swartz Bay
9:00 pm departing Tsawwassen
9:00 pm departing Swartz Bay

[Victoria Watcher]

All sailings are cancelled for the rest of the day due to today’s wind storm:

5:00 pm departing Swartz Bay
7:00 pm departing Tsawwassen
7:00 pm departing Swartz Bay
9:00 pm departing Tsawwassen
9:00 pm departing Swartz Bay

 

ffs

[Matt R.]

Salish Raven done for the day too. Seems to me that they have been much more proactive in cancelling this year. I wonder if they Self Insure?

Matt.

[Victoria Watcher]

Despite a furor over extra sailings added for the Easter long weekend, BC Ferries said that passenger and vehicle traffic were down on the major routes.

 

Spokesperson Deborah Marshall said that long weekend traffic was down 63 per cent for foot passengers and 46 per cent for vehicles compared to 2019, the last pre-pandemic Easter in B.C. However, Marshall said it was up compared to 2020.

 

As an essential service, ferries are continuing to operate at half capacity in order to permit physical distancing.

 

In a tweet, BC Ferries said they had added “a third of the extra sailings we usually would for a Easter long weekend.”

 

BC Ferries said they were unable provide passenger counts.

 

 

 

https://www.vicnews....extra-sailings/