MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS 1130) – It’s been 10 years since the Albion Ferry sailed across the Fraser River, but a Maple Ridge councillor hopes to revive water transportation in the area with a SeaBus between his community and Fort Langley.

Coun. Ahmed Yousef says there’s already infrastructure in place along the old Albion Ferry route to install a pedestrian-only SeaBus, similar to the one that connects Vancouver to the North Shore.

“It’s a service that’s used in Vancouver as well as numerous other cities that I’ve traveled to around the world where they use their water ways for transportation,” Yousef said. “It’s a very efficient method. It’s a very environmentally friendly method and of course we have this wonderful Fraser River that’s right there at our disposal … It would greatly reduce the carbon footprint of many Maple Ridge residents who commute on a daily basis out to the southern part of the river and out to New Westminster and other cities that do overlook the river.”

Yousef says he’s raised the idea with TransLink and hopes it will be included in the region’s 30-year transportation strategy.

“We ought to be considering using the river for transportation of persons, rather than simply goods, and TransLink, when they are looking to their 2050 plan, ought to really have this at their forefront as it will serve our communities quite well.”

TranksLink says resurrecting the Albion Ferry in any form is not currently a regional transportation priority.

“That said, Transport 2050 is all about thinking big and a lot can change with time. We are pleased Councillor Yousef is participating and we can take this idea under consideration as part of the Transport 2050 process,” TransLink wrote in an email.

As a vehicle and pedestrian vessel, the Albion Ferry last sailed on Jul. 31, 2009 after more than 50 years of service. It was retired just weeks after the Golden Ears Bridge opened to traffic.

Yousef says while the ferry was not a major commuter route, it did provide a means for people to escape the city and explore the area.

“I was fortunate enough to have been on the ferry on the very last day that it was operational. It was a quaint, unique personal service as it was a small vessel that traveled across. The staff would come down and chat with folks as they parked their cars and throughout the trip,” he said.