Closing the Duke Point ferry terminal for part of the year is one of those ideas that seems to make sense.
While action is pending, spokeswoman Deborah Marshall's B.C. Ferries has officially denied such an caveat has to be noted: "We have no plans at this time to do that."
We already know that the mid-Island and B.C. Ferries could function quite nicely without the Duke Point terminal during the winter months. The terminal was out of commission between December and May after the Coastal Inspiration had a "hard landing" and did significant damage to the docking structures.
B.C. Ferries is in a great deal of trouble. Its problems have increased exponentially as efforts to fix them have failed, tourism numbers have flatlined and the cost of fuel has risen dramatically.
Anything the corporation can do to improve its financial situation is welcome.
It has already eliminating 48 sailings between Duke Point and Tsawwassen between October and March.
Duke Point is apparently not a money-generator and, from Marshall's comments, B.C. Ferries might be open to halting the Duke Point service for part of the year, though perhaps not this year. She says there is a "public-engagement process" this fall about ferry services.
If closing Duke Point for part of the year comes to pass, that does not mean it's permanent. At some point, ridership may increase, B.C. Ferries' financial picture may improve and the economy will bounce back.
In the interim, closing Duke Point for six months is worthy of consideration.
