A two-level floating berth, new terminal building and realigned central exit road are three key strategies outlined in the 20-year Langdale ferry terminal master plan.
BC Ferries (BCF) officials presented an overview of the plan on April 29 to the Sunshine Coast Regional District transportation advisory committee.
"It's very much a concept plan," BCF project manager Aaron Hahn told the committee. "There's still a fair amount of consultation to take place and all the fine-ink details have not been worked out yet."
The floating berth proposed in the master plan would replace berth two and become the primary operating berth, with berth one retained as backup. The new berth would speed up ferry turnaround times and save fuel by enabling vessels to dock in direct alignment with loading and unloading vehicles.
Hahn said there had been discussions about making berth two the primary berth, but officials concluded it would have to be demolished and rebuilt to make it functional.
Terminal building upgrades envisioned in the plan would see "a net new building," Hahn said. It would be two storeys with a service area, washrooms, secure baggage area, elevators and escalators leading to an elevated waiting lounge.
The plan also proposes moving the central exit road slightly north, allowing for more parking lot development on the north side and eliminating a safety issue, Hahn said. "A major benefit is we get rid of merging traffic."
The increased capacity for the holding area, he said, "means we have the capacity to hold two sailings if we need to."
The plan also allows for the introduction of return fares. "In all the features we have included paid tickets," Hahn said.
The plan would nearly double the size of the pre-ticket area and add a toll plaza - "a function we need when we deal with cash," he said.
West Howe Sound director Lee Turnbull said the plan to control the Smith Road exit with only a stop sign would be a major concern for area residents.
"I really want to register a very high concern about the exit up there. There's a school up there," Turnbull said, echoing concerns expressed by Const. Todd Bozak of Sunshine Coast RCMP Traffic Services.
The plan was developed by a BCF steering committee and a working group involving more than 30 BCF employees, in consultation with local government, ferry advisory committees and BC Transit.
There are no timelines for undertaking the work. The plan will be presented to the public at an open house in the near future and the refined document will go to BCF management for approval later this year.
