In 1889, former British Columbia PremierAmor de Cosmos, was the first person known to publicly suggest Swartz Bay as a feasible ferry terminal for connections to B.C.'s Lower Mainland. In 1959, the search for a new ferry terminal north of Victoria involved consideration of the existing San Juan Islands ferry facilities at Sidney. Insufficiently sheltered waters and added travel time, leading to higher fuel costs, precluded Sidney from being selected. A small, private ferry dock, operated by the Gulf Islands Ferry Company already existed at Swartz Bay, when the choice was made to locate the B.C. Ferry Corporation terminal there. As a result of the decision, a paved extension of the Patricia Bay Highway to reach the terminal was undertaken. The first scheduled sailing from the terminal, described as a "mudhole" due to the continuing construction, occurred on June 15, 1960. On September 1, 1961, the company that built and used the smaller original dock at Swartz Bay was bought out by B.C. Ferries.
Accidents and incidents
A fire, caused by a cutting torch, led to $500,000 worth of damage to the terminal in December 1981. It destroyed part of the passenger walkway and a wingwall, prior to being contained by terminal staff, firefighters and the approaching Queen of Nanaimo, which utilized its hoses to help keep the blaze at bay. Residents have expressed noise concerns over the years, and the matter has been raised in the Legislative Assembly. Concerns have also been expressed ranging from terminal expansion to the shooting of pigeons by ferry staff. On September 14, 2000, the ferry Spirit of Vancouver Island struck a pleasure craft just off Swartz Bay, killing two individuals. On May 20, 2011, a truck waiting in line proceeded to drive up the upper ramp of the terminal's first berth and drove through several guard barriers and safety netting at an accelerated speed. The truck then proceeded at a high rate of speed to drive off the end of the berth and into the water. Later the same day, divers located the truck and deceased driver in the water off the end of the berth, identifying him later that week.
Ferry facilities and connections
Currently, there are five ferry berths at the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. Completed in 2006, the Swartz Bay Berth 2 project involved the replacement of the old marine structures and counter-weighted ramp lift system with a $25 million state-of-the-art floating berth. The terminal provides BC Ferry service to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal on the mainland, as well as all the major southern Gulf Islands. In the mid 1990s, a major terminal renovation was undertaken. The terminal includes an administration building, and various kiosks run by local artisans and other vendors mainly in the warmer months. There is also a cafeteria and coffee shop in the main building. The terminal is served by several Victoria Regional Transit System public transit routes, with Route 70 providing express bus service to and from downtown Victoria in about an hour. Short and long-term pay parking is run by a private operator under contract to BC Ferries. The terminal is located about 10 minutes from Victoria International Airport via Highway 17. The Lochside Regional Trail also runs south from Swartz Bay to Victoria. Swartz Bay is the only major southern terminal in the BC Ferries system without a traffic signal at its entrance or exit.
