The provincial government is planning a major new replacement facility for the Belleville Ferry Terminal in downtown Victoria for international connections to the United States.
It will replace the existing installation of aging, loosely interconnected structures in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, on the same three-acre footprint immediately west of the Steamship Building – near the BC Legislature.
It is estimated that a new state-of-the-art facility costing between $220 million and $290 million is required to meet border security and pre-clearance measures under the Canada-United Nations agreement. United States for rail, marine, and air transportation preclearance standards.
Otherwise, without the investment, Vancouver Island risks losing its international ferry lines, resulting in major permanent economic loss for Victoria’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
The existing facility for passenger-only and vehicle-passenger ferries provides international border processing for Black Ball, Clipper, and Washington State Ferries services. BC Ferries does not currently operate from this facility, nor does it have any cross-border routes in the United States.
In 2019, before the pandemic, the Belleville Ferry Terminal handled 681,000 passengers, resulting in direct expenditures of $174 million in Greater Victoria, and generating $289 million in economic output in British Columbia and $164 million in provincial GDP. The terminal generates 220,000 overnight visitors and sells over 16,000 vacation packages supporting businesses in the Victoria area each year.
The preliminary design concept calls for a new complex up to three stories tall, with ample interior space for lounge and designated waiting areas, catering options and a new modern pre-clearance space with the latest standards border security. The new building will be built to a LEED Gold green design standard with hardwood materials and Indigenous public art.
There will also be a new dock, a commercial goods handling facility and a designated pick-up and drop-off area for vehicles and buses fronting on Belleville Street. The facility will be designed to allow for future expansion, including new and additional ferry operators, both public and private.
If all goes according to plan, a contractor for the long-envisaged project could be selected by fall 2023, allowing construction to begin in mid-2024 and be completed in fall 2027.
A temporary terminal for Clipper will be constructed in the Steamship building to accommodate their interim operational needs throughout the years-long multi-phase construction process, including a temporary setup for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Black Ball and the Canada Border Services Agency will continue to use the existing building and facilities.
The provincial government hopes that the federal government will cover 50% of eligible project costs.
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