A trip back in time for Airport Ferry users through April and now into May

It's back in service!  Like a trip back in time, travellers to and from the
Prince Rupert Airport have made use of the yellow school bus variety of transit

Those flying in and out of the Digby Island Airport had an opportunity to do a little time travel last month, as the trip across the harbour offered a chance to step aboard the bone rattling, jaw dropping transportation option of the old yellow school bus.

The return of the bus apparently coming with the use of the barge that is operated by Wainwright Marine while the Airport Ferry undergoes its refit.

While the Airport Ferry remains in refit in Victoria, transportation across
the harbour is being provided by a barge and tug service from
Wainwright Marine

The Yellow bus, a not so romantic tale of the past, has been a regular fixture along with one of the more familiar airport shuttle buses through the month. Making for some quizzical looks from those perhaps new to the transportation system as they prepare to board at the YPR Shuttle building on Sixth Street.

The use of the barge (and the yellow bus) will also be extended for a bit longer, last month we noted that the City's Financial Officer had advised that extra work would be required for the refit project, an additional 500,000 dollars worth of attention that is bringing the bill ever closer to the one million dollar mark.

Originally the refit was expected to be complete by the end of April, however the additional work will now require a bit of additional time to complete.

April 10, 2019 -- More money required for Airport Ferry refit, as total closes in on one million dollar mark
March 25, 2019  -- One month refit for Airport Ferry to start March 28th
October 11, 2018 -- Airport Ferry refit contract awarded by City Council Tuesday
October 9, 2018 -- City Council to hear options for refit of Digby Island Ferry tonight
July 17, 2018 -- City of Prince Rupert seeking proposals for annual refit of Digby Island Ferry


Heading into May, it's still the Wainwright Barge making the trek across the harbour, and so far the city has not provided much in the way of further updates as to when they anticipate the Digby Island Ferry's return and the end of the somewhat more time consuming barge crossing process.

Last month City Councillor Barry Cunningham had asked that the City also invite representatives of the Prince Rupert Airport Authority to attend the next available City Council session to provide for a community update on developments with the airport.

However, as the review of Monday's City Council meeting shows, so far, the Airport Authority update plans remain on the back burner,  with no members of the Society appearing at City Council yet to offer any form of background on the plans ahead for the city's main transportation link to the province, country and world.

For more items of note related to the Prince Rupert Airport see our archive page here.

Further background on City Council notes can be found from our Council Discussion page.

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