SAVE THE MV COHO FERRY-PT ANGELES/VICTORIA

THE CITY OF VICTORIA APPOINTED A TASK FORCE TO REVAMP ITS INNER HARBOUR AND IT HAS LEFT THE COHO FERRY FROM PORT ANGELES, WA OUT OF ITS PLANS!
A tradition of international goodwill and trade since 1959, last year the Coho carried 440,000 passengers, 165,000 of whom were "walk-ons." The MV Coho is the source of the greatest number of sightseers brought to Victoria.

LET'S SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO VICTORIA: WE WANT THE COHO TO STAY IN THE INNER HARBOUR!

Remember what Margaret Mead wrote:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

MV COHO FACTS
-197,000 foot passengers on average use the ship each year

-Four sailings per day in summer

-Crossing time: 90 minutes

-$44 US one way for most vehicles

-$11.50 US one way for passengers

-Holds 110 vehicles

-[Carries] 1,000 passengers

-94.5 metres in length

-Built by Seattle's Puget Sound Bridge & Dry Dock in 1959

-In 2006, more than 60 per cent of the one million passengers entering Victoria's Inner Harbour from the U.S. arrived aboard the Coho.

(Source-(Victoria) Times Colonist)

UPDATES

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12/30 Update: Please sign the petition to keep the Seattle-Port Townsend ferry running indefinitely (it's scheduled to end Jan. 6): www.Seattle2PT.com. Each roadway, bridge and ferry crossing must be maintained for the public to benefit from the greatest ease of travel to and from the Olympic Peninsula, Vancouver Island and the Puget Sound region.

12/26 Update: The Sequim Gazette reports that despite Washington State Ferries' Steel Electric troubles, the Coho is "still going strong." The article is on the myriad transportation problems affecting the north Olympic Peninsula, whether it's Highway 101 South, the Hood Canal Bridge replacement, or the Port Townsend ferries, people are finding it a challenge to get off and on the Peninsula.

12/2 Update: the (Victoria) Times Colonist reported on November 30 the results of an economic study of the Coho ferry service. The study was conducted by the University of Victoria and commissioned by Tourism Victoria and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority. The study found that the Coho brought $123.7 million into the local economy in 2006! Furthermore, "the ferry transported the equivalent of 205,144 return passengers last year, supported 3,541 full-time jobs and contributed $12.4 million in local taxes." The article also reports on an exit survey of passengers leaving the Coho wherein "approximately 56 per cent of foot passengers, and 22 per cent of vehicle drivers, said they would not have travelled to Victoria if the MV Coho service had not been available." The study also found "a foot passenger spends, on average, $285.73 during a visit, while a vehicle passenger spends $380.81." Moreover, the study revealed that "stopping the service would result in a loss of $45.8 million in net impact, 1,232 full-time equivalent jobs and $4.6 million in taxes."

10/9 Update: Port Angeles Mayor Karen Rogers is meeting on Friday with Victoria officials:

"Rogers and members of the City Council are expected to take the 8:20 a.m. ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, pick up Mayor Alan Lowe and members of his council, and ride the 10:30 a.m. ferry back to Port Angeles. The group has scheduled a two-hour lunch at The Landing restaurant, then the Canadians will catch the 2 p.m. ferry back to Vancouver Island."
-[Port Angeles] Peninsula Daily News

Full Article

I e-mailed Mayor Rogers the link to our petition so she can talk about it with Victoria officials.

10/5 Update: Canadian pro cycling website PezCycling News has a good story on biking up to Hurricane Ridge in Washington's Olympic National Park and recommends its readers ride the MV Coho to get to Port Angeles.

Recreational tourists traveling from Canada to Washington's Olympic National Park and Peninsula (kayakers, mountain climbers, runners, mountain bikers, cyclists) have a real presence on the Coho. It's the main reason Jefferson County [Washington] Commissioners support keeping the Coho in the Inner Harbour (see 9/27 Update with link).

10/4 Update: Port Angeles radio station KONP is reporting on its website that Victoria's Mayor and other officials will be coming to PA to meet with Mayor Karen Rogers about the Coho dock in Victoria.

-Vaughn Palmer of the Vancouver Sun again mentioned our petition on Wednesday's News From Canada on Seattle's public radio station, KUOW. He also said he sees no sign the Coho is being evicted.

10/1 Update: Although the Seattle Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer have not found the Coho story compelling enough to report on, the P-I ran an article on September 21 about the US-Canadian dollar parity wherein Ryan Burles, VP of Black Ball, says more Canadians are taking the Coho to the US and no drop in US travel to Canada on the Coho has occurred as a result of the dollar. In other words, even more people are using the Coho and there's a new incentive for Canadians.

9/27 Update: Jefferson County [Washington] Commissioners support keeping the Coho in the Inner Harbour, reports the Peninsula Daily News [Port Angeles, WA]. 

-Terry Farmer returned my e-mail with a polite e-mail saying money is the problem. I wrote him back saying I know he will help find a way. Jane got an e-mail back from Premier Gordon Campbell.

9/20 Update: I e-mailed the City of Forks, WA; the Makah Nation in Neah Bay, WA; Partnerships BC; and Terry Farmer of Accent Inns, President of the Belleville Terminal Task Force, with our petition. 750 people have signed!

9/18 Update: I posted our cause and the URL to our petition on Craig's List Seattle under Kitsap County/West Puget Sound local news and views:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/vnn/425699009.html.

-Today I contacted Washington-state Governor Christine Gregoire and KING5 TV in Seattle.

-Remember that one letter to the editor is said to represent 1,000 sympathetic opinions.

Bon Voyage Aaron and Naomi, who married at Lake Crescent, Olympic Peninsula, WA on Saturday and left for their Victoria honeymoon via the MV Coho. Congratulations!

9/17 Update: WE'VE COLLECTED 700 SIGNATURES!!!

-Jane has written to BC Premier Gordon Campbell and included the link to our petition. She is also trying to persuade KOMO TV in Seattle to cover the Coho story. Also, at Jane's urging, this morning, I e-mailed our cause and petition link to the Seattle Times as a "news tip." Surprisingly, they have yet to cover this story. I also e-mailed Washington-state Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell a message (with a link to our petition) asking for their help.

-Care2 petitionsite, the website that so ably hosts this petition, has our SAVE THE MV COHO PETITION featured today as one of the "hottest" petitions, not only in the "International" category but also in "Activism." In other words, there are two links to our petition today because it's "hot" thanks to your signatures!

-Clark County, Washington's newspaper The Columbian has a great editorial published September 12 entitled "Victoria plan undermines ferry Coho," written by Tom Koenninger, editor emeritus of The Columbian. The first paragraph reads:

"Suppose a boatload of dollars sailed into the heart of your city four times a day every summer day. Suppose that stream of riches had been happening for 47 years. Now suppose some developers coveted the docking area for the boat. Would you kick the boat out in favor of another hotel and waterfront amenities? Certainly not."

Thanks to Mr. Koenninger and The Columbian (a Vancouver, WA-area newspaper) for bringing this issue to light.

-Jane reports that Bob at the Victoria kiosk in PA attended a meeting of Victoria hoteliers who want the Coho to stay put. Thanks for taking the time to do that Bob! And Jane! Everyone stop and say "hi and thanks" to Bob if you're by the kiosk. Jane says he's up to date on Coho news.

9/14 Update: BIG thanks to Jane Andrews ("Jane" heretofore and after) of Sequim, who is working hard to save the Coho!

-Port Angeles radio station KONP reports that PA mayor Karen Rogers was in Victoria last week to talk with Victoria officials about the Coho. The Mayor told KONP she is "not hopeful that the Coho terminal will remain in the Inner Harbour," and that she believes "several factions" with their own interests in the Harbour would like to see the Coho go.

9/12 Update: A HUGE thanks to Vaughn Palmer, columnist for the Vancouver Sun, who brought our cause to his News from Canada on Seattle's NPR station, KUOW, during the 10 o'clock-hour of Weekday today. Another HUGE thanks to KUOW who will post our petition on its website!

9/10 Update: I received an e-mail today from The City of Victoria's Ming Moodrey saying the City and the Mayor want the Coho to stay!

9/8 Update: Read today's article "Coho family sails with pride," on the (Victoria) Times Colonist website. You will find a lot of Coho information, news and facts in addition to the feature story.

9/7 Update: I e-mailed our petition link to Vaughn Palmer, columnist for the Vancouver Sun, and to the Communications Coordinator of Tourism Victoria.

9/5 Update: I e-mailed an empassioned letter and the link to our petition to the City of Victoria so it can watch our support GROW! Keep passing the link on:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-the-mv-coho

Note: An August 31 [Victoria] Times Colonist editorial reports that Tourism Victoria has given the task force a mandate to include the Coho in its future plans. It also calls for the task force to meet for an additional 60 days to try to comply with the mandate.

PETITIONER COMMENTS

Petitioner Tom B. of Washington wrote:
"I have been part of the Coho family since I was born, and have worked for the company for 23 summers. In my career, we hear from our frequent travelers how much they appreciate our service. It wasn't until this "Vision of Belleville" came around that I actually had a feeling for how much our service is appreciated. Our crews work hard every day making the Coho something special. It is nice to hear all the kind words. Thank you."
Thank you Tom!

Petitioner Yule Heibel of Canada wrote in part:
"Thanks for making this online forum available. Many of us oppose the "vision" put forward by the Belleville Street Terminal Task Force, and we're fighting to make sure that opposition doesn't get swept under the rug. The internet is a great help in this regard. In October, FOCUS Magazine (local Victoria publication) will include the article I wrote along those lines. FOCUS isn't available online, but I will be making the article available as a PDF on my blog (http://blogs.law.edu/yulelog). The Task Force's "vision" proposes a monoculture, but what today's cities need instead is diversity. Keep the Coho!"
"Yule" be a great help in saving the Coho!

Petitioner Dona M. H. wrote in part: "My grandfather was part of the building of the harbor rock walls and the first section of the Empress Hotel. THE COHO FERRY SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL ITEM ON THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL REGISTRY...YOU CAN'T JUST TOSS ASIDE TRADITION."
Placing the ferry on the historical register is a novel idea!

Petitioner Pat M. of Washington wrote: "We on the Olympic Peninsula will be more isolated than ever without the Coho."
What a great point Pat!

Petitioner Ken B. of Washington wrote in part: "If you remove that experience [of sailing into the Inner Harbour], I believe you will not need as many Hotel rooms!"
So true Ken!

Petitioner Edward G. of Washington wrote: "We would likely stop traveling to Canada all together if we lost this link to Victoria. We spend over $1000 each year in Canada."
Would No Coho=No Canada for Peninsula travelers?

An Anonymous petitioner from Washington wrote in part:  "My grandmother was on the Coho's maiden voyage, which is a very memorable event in our family history. I still have a cigarette lighter in the shape of the Coho. The lighter was given out on the maiden voyage and has never been used."
Very cool! I bet there are a lot of Coho stories.

MV Coho website

Belleville Terminal Task Force website with link to its report

Photo: www.tacomascene.com

BELLEVILLE TERMINAL TASK FORCE

The task force cites only the cost of the Coho's parking requirements as its reason for squeezing the Coho's dock out of its plans and offered the City no alternatives.

Members:

Terry Farmer, President, Accent Inns (Chair)

Starr McMichael, President, Starrboard Enterprises Inc. (Vice-Chair)

Chief Andy Thomas, Esquimalt Nation

Chief Robert Sam, Songhees Nation

Rob Hunter, President, Devon Properties

Eric Donald, Consultant

Robin Adair, Vice President, WCG International

Mohan Jawl, Downtown Victoria Community Alliance

Matt MacNeill, President, Victoria Pub Company

Judith Scott, Owner, Budget Rent-A-Car

Don Prittie, Chair, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority

Deane Strongitharm, Consultant, CitySpaces Consulting Ltd.

Darrell Bryan, Executive Vice President, Victoria Navigation

Tim VanAlstine, Chair, James Bay Neighbourhood Environment Association

The Coho is endangered-let's prevent it from becoming extinct!