Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for the continuation of the Q to Q ferry – but the city says it has no plans to sink the service.
On Sept. 12, a Queensborough resident launched the petition – Q2Q Ferry: A Necessity Between Queensborough and the Quay. Within 24 hours, more than 300 people had signed the online petition on change.org.
“We, the residents and businesses of Queensborough, petition the City of New Westminster to extend the operation of the Q2Q ferry to the end of 2024 and to ensure that operations will continue in 2025 and beyond,” said the petition. “The Queensborough area of New Westminster is a fast-growing area of the city with a varied population of all ages, young families and active retirees. The ferry has proven to be an invaluable service to our residents in their daily lives be it to and from work or school, appointments for services of all kinds, shopping and entertainment.”
The petition goes on to say that businesses in downtown New Westminster have also benefited from the ferry, which provides “easy access” for Queensborough residents to the downtown.
At the time the survey was launched, the city’s website included information about the fall 2024 schedule.
“Due to an unexpected increase in operating costs in recent months, service will be end (stet) early in 2024 in order to ensure costs remain with the budget approved by council in January,” said the city’s website. “The last day of service for 2024 will be Sunday, Dec. 15. Service is expected to resume in January 2025.”
Early Friday evening, the city provided an update about the Q to Q service and a revised schedule. The new schedule shows that ferry service will continue until the end of December (and beyond), with the exception of Wednesday, Dec. 25 and Thursday, Dec. 26.
“Contrary to rumours circulating in the community, the city has no plans to eliminate the ferry service after 2024,” stated the notice. “Service is expected to continue in 2025; staff are currently reviewing operating costs and will provide council with a proposed budget for review and approval as part of the 2025 budget process. The winter schedule will be finalized once the budget is approved. Please check back at the end of December for updates.”
The City of New Westminster launched a two-month pilot of the Q to Q ferry service in the summer of 2017, ultimately deciding to offer the service year-round. The city began the ferry service as a way of connecting the Queensborough and Quayside neighbourhoods, after cost and regulatory issues sank plans for a proposed pedestrian crossing between the two waterfront neighbourhoods.
