B.C. has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the design and construction of the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project in Victoria. Following the RFQ, a shortlist of qualified teams will be invited to participate in a request for proposal (RFP).
The travelling experience of ferry passengers between Victoria and Washington state will be improved by the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project, which will deliver a new, secure, state-of-the-art, pre-clearance terminal for passengers and goods.
“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.”
The upgrade will bring Belleville Terminal into compliance with the Canada-U.S. Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement. Pre-clearance will streamline travel by allowing passengers to complete the U.S. customs and immigration process in Victoria, prior to disembarking in the United States.
With an approved budget of $303.9 million, the project is expected to be completed in time for the 2028 tourism season. The federal government has confirmed $41.6 million for the project.
Belleville Terminal is on the territory of the Lekwungen peoples, the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation. The province is working collaboratively with the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation to identify opportunities to showcase the cultural and geographical significance of the project’s location in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, and welcome visitors into Lekwungen territory.
“Belleville Terminal is a critical transportation hub and gateway. The terminal contributes to a thriving ocean hub, providing services to both visitors and freight from Port Angeles. These visitors bring millions of dollars of new revenue to our region every year, directly supporting jobs, small businesses and significant tax contributions,” said Robert Lewis-Manning, CEO of Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.
