Quote:
Originally Posted by fredinno
1. Seabus doesn't have a outdoor deck which would make it good for tourism.
2. Seabus will probably see its demand drop by 80%+ due to a North Shore Skytrain at First Narrows/Norgate, making it uneconomical to maintain, as shown previously due to the ferry's lower speed.
3. Port Metro Van would really like to see Seabus die, as it competes for port space and traffic and cuts across the entire harbor.
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I never suggested it was a tourist-specific vessel, just that it is a transit feature that is very attractive to tourists. Everyone I know who's come to visit the Vancouver area has enjoyed the ride on the SeaBus. Even though you're not outside on a deck, you are travelling on the water with great views of the city skyline, the active port and the North Shore mountains. It's fun, fast and cheap, with lots to see and do on both sides of the harbour.
Plus, I don't understand your focus on a Norgate/First Narrows route when TransLink and the local councils appear to prefer the Second Narrows route options. Do you have any studies to support such a drop in demand or that the Port prefers to remove the SeaBus? Even if a line were to go from the Quay along Marine Drive, through Norgate and on to Waterfront, you're looking at a distance comparable to the Waterfront-Nanaimo run on Expo which is roughly the same time-wise as the SeaBus. A large percentage of SeaBus traffic comes from the Lonsdale area anyway, so it won't be a big time-saver. Rapid transit to the North Shore would best serve the population if it can introduce a new route, not replace an existing one that works well.
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