A petition to create a two-ferry service between Crofton and Vesuvius Bay on Salt Spring Island has quickly reached its goal of 1,500 signatures.

The initial 1,000 signatures came primarily from Salt Spring, with the remainder since then being mainly from Crofton and the Mid-Island area once word of the petition spread across the channel last week.

鈥淚 think your article pushed us over the top,鈥� said petition organizer David Courtney of a story that appeared in Black Press papers around the Island last week. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done 500 after the article came out.鈥�

The proposal calls for BC Ferries to run two ferries simultaneously, the MV Quinitsa and the MV Quinsam that鈥檚 coming to the route anyway in the spring.

It鈥檚 seen as the answer to clear backlogs at the Crofton and Vesuvius terminals that create access and other problems within both communities.

鈥淲e haven鈥檛 freed up traffic on the roadways forever,鈥� said Courtney.

The plan would call for ferries to leave on the hour from both terminals. The combined capacity of the two vessels would move 107 vehicles per hour and keep the overload and waiting lines much shorter.

There has been plans in the works for years to redevelop the Crofton terminal, but that鈥檚 been stalled by COVID.

Courtney also sees the plan as a means to correct the same backlogs being experienced at Fulford Harbour, with more migration to the other route for business and individual purposes.

鈥淭his is where the traffic wants to go anyway,鈥� he pointed out.

Courtney is also in the process of garnering further support from the Salt Spring Island and Chemainus & District Chambers of Commerce plus neighbouring Chambers.

Even though the petition has reached the target, Courtney isn鈥檛 about to stop it just yet.

鈥淲e鈥檒l run it for another seven days,鈥� noted Courtney. 鈥淎t that point, we鈥檒l collect the signatures.鈥�

The 1,500 names, he added, 鈥渕akes a statement. If we get 2,000 that would be perfect.鈥�

The petition is available to physically sign in Crofton at the Third Wave Coffee Company, 1532 Chaplin St., or at Cedrick鈥檚 Coffee House, 1610 Joan Ave.

People interested in signing can also still do it on-line by going to change.org and then searching for The Fix For Route 6.