BC Ferries is set to start its long-awaited consultation on possible Route 3 schedule changes next week.
BC Ferries’ Deborah Marshall said they’ll be doing surveys online, at the terminals and on the ships, and at community events on the Sunshine Coast.
Marshall told Coast Reporter that the details of the type of questions they’ll be asking people to weigh in on are still being finalized, but the idea is to get as much information as possible about what people like about the current Langdale-Horseshoe Bay schedule, what they don’t like, and what they think a better schedule would look like.
“We want everybody’s ideas, we want people to bring their concerns… It’s important for us to hear all that information so we can go forward and present some schedules that will improve the service to Langdale,” she said.
She also said Ferries is planning a similar outreach effort for users of the other routes to and from Horseshoe Bay. “All three are going to be intertwined, but it’s more important that we talk to our Langdale customers first… That schedule has presented more of a challenge, so that’s the one we want to start with.”
BC Ferries has also announced a big “Sunrise and Sunset Savings” promotion for people who want to travel early mornings or late in the evening on some routes, including Langdale-Horseshoe Bay.
The fare for a passenger vehicle and driver will be $39, $49, or $59 on select sailings from May 18 to Sept. 15, but for Langdale-Horseshoe Bay travellers it’s going to be “Sunset Savings” only.
The $39 fare will only be available on the final sailing out of Horseshoe Bay each day.
Marshall said they can’t give a discount on sailings out of Langdale, because they don’t collect fares on that side. She also said Ferries wants to encourage people to use sailings that aren’t normally busy, and the first sailing from Horseshoe Bay is traditionally very popular.
She said that’s not always the case with the other routes where the promotion is being offered: Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay, Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay, and Tsawwassen-Duke Point.
Marshall said motorcycle riders will also qualify for a discount and people will be able to use their Experience Cards to get the $39 fare, but there won’t be an extra discount.
