Our council, in its 2015 strategic plan, set the goal to “start on an Integrated Master Transportation Plan” and put in place planning resources. It is now up to us, the residents of Bowen, to provide our input.
Bowen Islanders need to start thinking about both the immediate and long-term future of our transportation infrastructure. We are facing a number of challenges ranging from weekend ferry schedules to commuter parking in the Cove.
We must ask ourselves precisely what sort of transportation infrastructure we want and why we want it. Bowen is a diverse mix of people: age, skills, interests and economics. We have a higher-than-average school-age population and a wide range of skills and professions, some of which are maintained through commuting to the mainland and farther afield. We share a common interest in maintaining and improving our environment.
Over the next few months Bowen Island Transportation Advisory Committee will reach out and actively solicit public input. Our tent, at Bowfest, was a start. The BIMTAC volunteers learned a lot: for example, there is not enough information, particularly for newcomers, about the costs and schedules of the various alternative transportation services on the island and to and from the mainland.
Bowen Islanders need to establish a consensus on transportation facilities in the Cove. Ferry marshalling has always been an issue — we need a plan, built by consensus. We also need a consistent policy for parking — what spaces should be available for access to merchants and public facilities such as the library — and how many spaces should be available for commuters? How can we maintain some level of consistency in our parking arrangements?
We need to discuss and plan possible revisions to the on-island Translink bus service. With the failure of the Translink referendum — Bowen Islanders voted in favour of it — we will not see any new initiatives from Translink for the near future. We have a cap of 7,700 operating hours for our bus service, but we have been assured by Translink if we have a consensus on minor route and schedule changes, they would likely implement them.
The Queen of Capilano’s mid-life upgrade was a success; one of its extra benefits was that it forced us to think about alternative transportation options to and from the mainland. Out of this has come the Bowen Island Express bus service to downtown Vancouver, increased number of water taxi and launch options, better medical-assured loading procedures and the development of the Bowen Lift app.
We need to continue this positive trend. Bowen, as a community, is evolving and we, the residents, must ensure that we are part of that evolution, not dragged along by it. What do you think we should do about transportation? How should we accommodate our increasing commuter population both on and off the island? We all need to contribute: figuratively speaking we can either get on the bus and go to our destination, or be left behind at the bus stop!
Adam Holbrook is the chair of the Bowen Island Transportation Advistory Committee.
