Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal
Encyclopedia
The Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal is a major transportation facility at Swartz Bay
in North Saanich
, British Columbia
. It is located 32 km (19.9 mi) north of Victoria
on Vancouver Island
. The terminal is part of the BC Ferry
system, as well as part of Highway 17.
, was the first person known to publicly suggest Swartz Bay as a feasible ferry terminal for connections to B.C.'s Lower Mainland
. In 1959, the search for a new ferry terminal north of Victoria involved consideration of the existing San Juan Islands
ferry facilities at Sidney
. Insufficiently sheltered waters and added travel time, leading to higher fuel costs, precluded Sidney.
A small, private ferry dock, operated by the Gulf Islands Ferry Company already existed at Swartz Bay, when the choice was made to locate the B.C. Ferry Corporation terminal there. As a result of the decision, a paved extension of the Patricia Bay Highway to reach the terminal was undertaken.
The first scheduled sailing from the terminal, described as a "mudhole" due to the continuing construction, occurred on June 15, 1960.
On September 1, 1961 the company that built and used the smaller original dock at Swartz Bay was bought out by B.C. Ferries.
A fire, caused by a cutting torch, led to $500,000 worth of damage to the terminal in December, 1981. It destroyed part of the passenger walkway and a wingwall, prior to being contained by terminal staff, firefighters and the approaching Queen of Nanaimo, which utilized its hoses to help keep the blaze at bay.
Residents have expressed noise concerns over the years, and the matter has been raised in the Legislative Assembly. Concerns have also been expressed ranging from terminal expansion to the shooting of pigeons by ferry staff.
On September 14, 2000 the ferry Spirit of Vancouver Island struck a pleasure craft just off Swartz Bay, killing two.
s at the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. The terminal provides BC Ferry service to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
on the mainland, as well as all the major southern Gulf Islands
.
In the mid 1990s, a major terminal renovation was undertaken.
The terminal includes an administration building, and various kiosks run by local artisans and other vendors mainly in the warmer months. There is also a cafeteria and coffee shop in the main building.
The terminal is served by several Victoria Regional Transit System
public transit routes, with Route 70 providing express bus service to and from downtown Victoria in about an hour. Short- and long-term pay parking is run by a private operator under contract to BCFS. The terminal is located about 10 minutes from Victoria International Airport
via Highway 17. The 29 kilometres (18 mi) Lochside Regional Trail also runs south from Swartz Bay to Victoria.
Swartz Bay, British Columbia
Swartz Bay, located on the north end of the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, is primarily known for being the location of one of BC Ferries' main terminals, the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. Swartz Bay was named after a man named Swart - i.e. it was meant to be Swart's Bay.-External links:...
in North Saanich
North Saanich, British Columbia
North Saanich is located on the Saanich Peninsula, approximately 25 km north of Victoria, British Columbia on southern Vancouver Island...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. It is located 32 km (19.9 mi) north of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
. The terminal is part of the BC Ferry
BC Ferries
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is a de facto Crown Corporation that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
system, as well as part of Highway 17.
History and controversy
In 1889, former British Columbia Premier Amor de CosmosAmor De Cosmos
Amor De Cosmos was a Canadian journalist, publisher and politician. He served as the second Premier of British Columbia.-Early life:...
, was the first person known to publicly suggest Swartz Bay as a feasible ferry terminal for connections to B.C.'s Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
. In 1959, the search for a new ferry terminal north of Victoria involved consideration of the existing San Juan Islands
San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the northwest corner of the contiguous United States between the US mainland and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The San Juan Islands are part of the U.S...
ferry facilities at Sidney
Sidney, British Columbia
Sidney is a town located at the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula, on Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is one of the 13 Greater Victoria municipalities. It has a population of approximately 11,300. Sidney is located just east of Victoria International Airport,...
. Insufficiently sheltered waters and added travel time, leading to higher fuel costs, precluded Sidney.
A small, private ferry dock, operated by the Gulf Islands Ferry Company already existed at Swartz Bay, when the choice was made to locate the B.C. Ferry Corporation terminal there. As a result of the decision, a paved extension of the Patricia Bay Highway to reach the terminal was undertaken.
The first scheduled sailing from the terminal, described as a "mudhole" due to the continuing construction, occurred on June 15, 1960.
On September 1, 1961 the company that built and used the smaller original dock at Swartz Bay was bought out by B.C. Ferries.
A fire, caused by a cutting torch, led to $500,000 worth of damage to the terminal in December, 1981. It destroyed part of the passenger walkway and a wingwall, prior to being contained by terminal staff, firefighters and the approaching Queen of Nanaimo, which utilized its hoses to help keep the blaze at bay.
Residents have expressed noise concerns over the years, and the matter has been raised in the Legislative Assembly. Concerns have also been expressed ranging from terminal expansion to the shooting of pigeons by ferry staff.
On September 14, 2000 the ferry Spirit of Vancouver Island struck a pleasure craft just off Swartz Bay, killing two.
Ferry facilities and connections
Currently there are five ferry berthBerth (moorings)
A berth is a location in a port or harbour used specifically for mooring vessels while not at sea.-Locations in a port:Berth is the term used in ports and harbors to define a specific location where a vessel may be berthed, usually for the purposes of loading and unloading.Most berths will be...
s at the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. The terminal provides BC Ferry service to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
The Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal is a major transportation facility in Delta, British Columbia. It is located on a three kilometre man-made causeway off the mainland at Tsawwassen and is less than 500 metres from the 49th parallel, Canada's border with the United States...
on the mainland, as well as all the major southern Gulf Islands
Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands are the islands in the Strait of Georgia , between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada....
.
In the mid 1990s, a major terminal renovation was undertaken.
The terminal includes an administration building, and various kiosks run by local artisans and other vendors mainly in the warmer months. There is also a cafeteria and coffee shop in the main building.
The terminal is served by several Victoria Regional Transit System
Victoria Regional Transit System
Victoria Regional Transit System provides public transportation in the Greater Victoria region of British Columbia, Canada. Its operations are governed by the Victoria Regional Transit Commission in association with BC Transit. There were more than 25 million riders in 2010.-History:Transit service...
public transit routes, with Route 70 providing express bus service to and from downtown Victoria in about an hour. Short- and long-term pay parking is run by a private operator under contract to BCFS. The terminal is located about 10 minutes from Victoria International Airport
Victoria International Airport
Victoria International Airport serves Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is north northwest of the city, in North Saanich, quite close to the town of Sidney on the Saanich Peninsula...
via Highway 17. The 29 kilometres (18 mi) Lochside Regional Trail also runs south from Swartz Bay to Victoria.