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Transportation » 

Southern Gulf Island transportation improvements are a strategic priority for the Capital Regional District and a key component of the CESC’s Experience the Gulf Islands. The objective is to facilitate the movement of residents, visitors and goods on Islands and between the Southern Gulf Islands, Salt Spring Island, and Vancouver Island through multi-modal transportation options, including trails and community bus services. The goal is to assist in growing the local economy while minimizing environmental concerns related to single-occupancy vehicles.

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In 2021 a Southern Gulf Islands Transportation Integration project was initiated at the request of island residents, organizations, and the SGI Community Economic Sustainability Commission (CESC), who asked the CRD to support the community buses and provide transportation alternatives within the Southern Gulf Islands: Galiano, Mayne, Saturna and North & South Pender Islands (SGI).

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The primary objective of an SGI transportation service was to provide financial and coordination support to locally led active transportation and community transit initiatives. It was also meant to provide some resources to support partnerships that improve inter-island travel between the islands (beyond BC Ferries).  

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The CRD conducted a year-long community engagement process that involved a high level of public participation. Local consultants prepared two reports on behalf of the CRD, the SGI Transportation Integration Plan and the Southern Gulf Island Active Transportation Plan. Further project documents are archived here​​

SGI Transportation Service Referendum Results

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The Capital Regional District included a referendum question on the ballot of the General Local Election in October 2022, to ask if voters support the creation of a new transportation service for the Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area. The referendum question failed with a vote of 1,495 yes to 1,498 no.​

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As part of the official determination of results, the CRD confirmed and verified the accuracy of all ballot accounts, confirmed the calculation of vote tallies from the electronic tabulators and ensured the correct consolidation of total results from across all polling locations. For details, visit www.crd.bc.ca/transportation-vote

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The referendum followed a thorough transportation integration planning and consultation process at the community level. Thank you to all who participated, shared ideas and provided feedback along the way. The Southern Gulf Islands Active Transportation Plan was developed in tandem with the integration plan, using separate grant funding from UBCM.

 

The plan and supporting maps will remain in place as working documents to help coordinate activities at the local level.

Further Reading

Community Bus Service

Between 2015-2019, the Capital Regional District contributed funding to community bus pilot projects on Mayne, Saturna, Pender and Galiano Islands. These pilots explored a variety of service models and schedules, but struggled with volunteer fatigue, high operating costs, and lack of funding. As of 2024, Saturna and Mayne Island continue to have on-demand bus services, while Pender is serviced by a private electric taxi.​

 

On Saturna Island the community shuttle service is owned by the Saturna Lions Club and operates using volunteer drivers.  Due to Saturna's relatively small population, paratransit service (call/text/email to request service) has proven more effective than a fixed schedule, and the vans average 3 trips per week. The service is free, but donations can be made to the Lions Club. You can call/text 604-760-9975 to pre-arrange a trip.

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On Mayne Island, the Community Bus is a 100% volunteer service. Rides are on a by-donation basis and donations go directly to the costs of fuel, insurance and maintainance. The service requires a 24hr advanced notice to accommodate trip requests. You can reach them at maynebus@protonmail.com or 250-539-0851.​

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Gulf Islands Regional Trails Plan

Mayne Island Regional Trail

Mayne Island Regional Trail

​The CRD has developed a plan for future regional trails on the Gulf Islands.  This plan identifies a conceptual route for a regional trail on each of Galiano, Mayne, North and South Pender, Salt Spring and Saturna Islands, and provides direction to guide implementation and trail development.​​
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The routes will generally connect ferry terminals to key destinations such as parks or commercial hubs, and over the long term the network of trails on the islands will benefit the region by providing more opportunities for recreation and active transportation.

 

The development of the regional trail system in the Gulf Islands is a long term initiative and will require significant external funding. Specific delivery of individual trail segments will be undertaken when adequate internal and external funding is available.

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Community Trails

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CRD Parks and Recreation Commissions on each island build and maintain community trails. The Commission trails are located on Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) road rights-of-way pursuant to a Letter of Agreement between MoTI and the Islands Trust.   

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The agreement outlines road standards and classification on park lands acquired through dedication by subdivision approvals and on undeveloped road allowances via a Licence of Occupation.  In addition, local groups such as Galiano Trails Society and Moving Around Pender have worked with landowners to provide trails across private lands under an agreement and with the group or society providing liability coverage.

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In 2023, Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission (PIPRC) embarked on the Schooner Way Trail Project, an initiative to build a 1.2km multi-use trail from Danny Martin Ballpark to the Pender School. Thus far, they have secured $500,000 from the Province of British Columbia’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Program, and $100,000 from Island Coastal Economic Trust’s Capital and Innovation Program to support the project. Further, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit donated 8000 cubic meters of material for the various levels of the trail build. Other funding comes from the Pender community, who pledged over $200,000 to the initiative, as well as funding from PIPRC.

The Mayne Island Regional Trail was the first trail section to be built out. The project was funded through the CRD’s regional parks service, however both federal and provincial funding were integral to the project, with a $2.8 million grant coming from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and $500,000 in project funds from the B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program. Total project costs were $4.5 million. The Trail offers a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists between the Village Bay ferry terminal and Miners Bay village. Travelling through towering Douglas-fir trees and lush salal and sword fern, you’ll find yourself keen to explore all of what Mayne Island has to offer. Whether cycling, walking, or running, this trail is your perfect beginning to experiencing the uniqueness of the area. Dogs must be on leash on all regional trails.

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Length: 2.3 km
Location: Mayne Island
Established: 2024
Hours: 24/7

Difficulty: Easy

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Work on the Schooner Way - School Trail commenced on Monday, March 3, 2025 with the careful removal of hazard trees along the trail route. This work was overseen by a local tree specialist and guided by a detailed arborist report. The trail route was designed to avoid healthy, mature trees and any dead trees that could be safely retained as wildlife trees were. 

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The construction tender for the project has been posted and Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission plans to award the contract in April to begin work in May.

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For any questions regarding the trail, contact the PIPRC Project Coordinator, Rob Fawcett, directly at 778-677-4733.

“I am excited to see the community-driven Schooner Way Trail project get underway on Pender Island. This first phase is vital and will spur further developments. Once complete, it will serve as an excellent active transportation trail for residents, provide impetus to connect with other existing trails and form the critical destination trail network  that empowers visitors to visit without their vehicles.” 

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-SGI Electoral Area Director Paul Brent

Inter-island Passenger-Only Ferries
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The Salish Sea Inter-Island Transportation Society provides oversight for the annual Tour des Isles event, during which, the Southern Gulf Islands are connected by small commercial foot passenger vessels. The weekend event welcomes thousands of passengers from Galiano, Mayne, Saturna, Pender and Salt Spring Islands with local water taxis providing service between CRD docks on each Island.  In some cases, local businesses or societies provide on-island transport to meet the boats.

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Private water taxi operators also offer inter-island passage year-round.

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