The Belleville Terminal in Victoria’s Inner Harbour is the first impression of the city for those who travel into town from Washington and the Province has gotten started on its redevelopment this week.
The goal is to replace the existing terminal with a new, secure and state-of-the-art building by 2028.
BC says the first step for the terminal is procurement and they are getting phase one of that process underway by issuing a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the design and construction of the project.
“We have moved quickly from project approval to procurement to signal that this tourism and trade corridor is critical for the region,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
“An improved modern terminal will be an economic generator on both sides of the border and will make travel more convenient for the hundreds of thousands of passengers travelling through it every year.”
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The Province says that travellers spend around $174 million every year which generates $268 million in economic output and $155 million in provincial gross domestic product (GDP), making tourism a vital part of BC’s economy.
Following the RFQ, a shortlist of qualified design and construction teams will be invited to participate in a request for proposal (RFP), to make bids on taking part in the project.
The main part of this project in terms of the terminal’s functionality is to bring it up-to-date and into compliance with the Canada-US Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement and to allow for a streamlined pre-clearance process for visitors.
BC has approved a budget of $303.9 million for this endeavour, with the federal government putting $41.6 million toward the new terminal.
Currently, the Province is still in negotiations with ferry operators Black Ball Ferry Line and FRS Clipper to determine the extent of their involvement.
BC also says they are in talks with the Songhees Nation, Esquimalt Nation and the Lekwungen peoples whose traditional lands the new terminal would occupy.
