Halifax council approves fast ferry

Halifax Regional Council has giventhe green light to afast ferry between Bedford and downtown Halifax,despite the reservations ofa number of councillors.

The project,whichcould cost as much as $30 million,was approved in principle, meaning funding must now be secured from other levels of government before commuters canactually cross the Bedford Basin on high-speed ferries.

A consultant's study presented to council Tuesday night says there is support for the idea and that it could work if the municipality uses two ferries, each capable of carrying 350 people.

The report also recommends providing free parking at the ferry terminal and charging a one-way fare of $5.

Coun. Linda Mosher doesn't think a $5 fare is necessary, but believes it is time to start using the harbour to reduce traffic congestion.

"One only has to drive down the Bedford Highway in the morning and try to turn left," said Mosher. "It's impossible. The traffic is completely blocked."

Othersare not completely sold on the idea. Coun. Sue Uteck said the money could be better spent on improving the existing bus system.

"I'm not convinced that this is the correct use of HRM dollars," said Uteck.

Those in charge of the project assured council that Halifax's overall transit system is being upgraded and the fast-ferry system won't go ahead without financial help from Ottawa.

Regular ferries already run between downtown Halifax and Dartmouth, which is also part of the Halifax Regional Municipality.

A fast-ferry proposal has been bandied about for years. In 2000, when a rapid-transit plan using old CN rail lines went by the wayside, a high-speed ferry service was suggested as one of the alternatives.

It was given trial run in October 2005 using a leased vessel from Massachusetts.