BC Ferries is increasing the parking fees at the Langdale terminal on Feb. 8.
The company says it’s increasing the fees, in part, to “encourage a higher rate of turnover for parking space usage.”
Deborah Marshall of BC Ferries said the company wants to have a higher turnover because there isn’t room to add more spots and they’ve been getting a lot of feedback from frustrated travellers who arrive to find the lot full.
“We are pursuing having a contractor come in to manage the lot for us, but that is something we’re still looking at,” added Marshall. She also said they didn’t want to put the rates up too high to avoid “shock.”
The rate for 16 hours will go from $2.25 to $3. The 24-hour cost is increasing from $4.50 to $6. The monthly parking pass will now cost $75 instead of $64.
Even with the increase, the Langdale rates will still be lower than most other terminals. The current rates at Horseshoe Bay are $14 for 12 hours and $16 for 24 hours. At Departure Bay in Nanaimo, parking will set you back $6 for six hours and $12 for 24 hours.
The new rate scheme does not include an annual pass. Up until Feb. 7, they were available for $535. Passes that were renewed before then will still be valid, and BC Ferries says it’s reviewing what to do about the future of the annual pass program.
Marshall said the effort to increase the number of spots in the Langdale lot from the current 298 spaces continues, but there aren’t a lot of options available. She said the “overflow lot” is not in line to be converted to parking, and the terminal redevelopment plan does not include a parkade. However, there is the potential to add about 20 spots.
