Ferries a contingency plan for 2010?

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Ferries a back-up plan for 2010?

By BOB MACKIN, 24 HOURS

Ferries are back on the drawing board for Olympic transportation, but only in case of emergency.

The six-year-old Vancouver 2010 bid book included plans for a fleet of 16 high-speed passenger-only vessels. After winning the bid, VANOC chose motorcoaches only.

The July 29, 2008 rockslide near Porteau Cove provincial park closed the Sea-to-Sky Highway for three days.

VANOC executive vice-president Terry Wright said the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is including ferries in contingency plans.

"If they ever have a repeat, even outside the Olympic window, they have something they can pull off the shelf," Wright said.

"We are reviewing and exploring marine options," said ministry spokesman Dave Crebo, adding the Porteau Cove dock, near the rockslide site, would be used in case of emergency.

VANOC's Transportation Premise Document, a May 23, 2008 report obtained via Freedom of Information, said 60 to 90 per cent of spectators, 70 to 90 per cent of sponsors and 50 to 90 per cent of the workforce at Whistler venues would originate from Vancouver.

"It will likely remain up until Games time the one assumption with the greatest amount of uncertainty," said the report.