Port Angeles-Victoria Ferry (Cont’d)

No breaking news here; just a few links regarding the MV Coho and its possible move out of Victoria Harbor. Since most of the people of Port Angeles and Victoria are against this move, hopefully the Coho will remain in the Inner Harbor.

At an earlier post, a commenter left a link for e-mailing the mayor and/or city council of Victoria. You can do that here. The same person also provided a link for writing a letter to the editor of the Victoria Times Colonist.

Here is the main website for the Victoria Times Colonist. And be sure to check out Vibrant Victoria — a forum for Victoria issues. There are quite a few posts and comments there regarding the Coho. The two cities are both affected by a lot of the same issues; hopefully there can be more interaction.

UPDATE: Here is an online petition for keeping the MV Coho in Victoria's Inner Harbour.

A Threat to the Port Angeles-Victoria Ferry?

Uh oh. That’s a pretty alarming headline in today’s PDN. A Victoria task force has decided that the MV Coho has “outgrown the inner harbor.” Victoria is planning a huge redevelopment project for Victoria Harbor, and the “new improved” version won't have space for the Coho. It would be relegated out to Sydney or Esquimalt.

How’s that for a brilliant idea.

If the Port Angeles-Victoria ferry is jeopardized, Port Angeles isn't the only city that would suffer. Even though Victoria is much larger than P.A. and gets a lot more tourists, Victoria merchants are up in arms over this insane proposal.

Ryan Burles, from the Victoria office of Black Ball Transport, Inc., said “We're a bit in shock. We know we're the number one carrier of ferry travelers to this city. We bring in 60 percent of the ferry travelers, and we do it more reliably and more affordably than anyone else.”

He also said “The whole idea of the task force was to create a premier gateway, so why would you take away your number one transportation provider? We need to voice our concerns and tell them what we provide and how well we provide.”

Black Ball Transport has taken an average of 131,000 vehicles and 511,000 passengers from Port Angeles to Victoria each year for the past fifteen years.

This redevelopment proposal is still in the preliminary stages; no action will be taken any time soon. As the plan gets worked out, hopefully cooler heads — ones with brains inside — will prevail.

UPDATE:

Here is the link to a Victoria online forum regarding the Victoria Harbor "improvements." I think Port Angeles residents should register with this forum and express their views, since this issue will have a major impact on residents of Port Angeles and Victoria.