Project Update - April 22, 2021

We are Moving Ahead with a Trial for Sunshine Coast This Summer

After consultation with Ferry Advisory Committees, key stakeholders, the District of Sechelt, Town of Gibsons and the Sunshine Coast Regional District, a trial program to provide travel certainty, reduce stress and improve our customers’ experience on the Sunshine Coast this summer will move forward. We will now proceed with finalizing the trial’s details and implementation dates.

Learn more about the trial in the materials we presented to stakeholders:

These documents are also available in the 'Reports' section on the right-hand side of this page.

We will ensure the community is well informed about changes to their travel experience this summer. Later in April, we will begin to provide regular community updates on the trial as we finalize the details. Please stay tuned to this page, your local newspaper and our social media channels for these updates.

This trial is in response to the feedback we heard throughout the Moving Ahead Together on the Sunshine Coast project about the need to reduce the stress and anxiety of ferry travel to and from the Sunshine Coast, especially in the peak season. As part of our ongoing engagement efforts, a strong engagement and communications program will be in place throughout the duration of the trial, including regular reports to the community on the trial’s results. We look forward to gathering community feedback and insights to help us gauge whether the trial met its intended objectives.

More information on the trial will made widely available in the coming weeks.

A note about current travel restrictions: We recognize these are challenging times for all as COVID-19 travel restrictions remain in place. The trial is not about encouraging people to travel on BC Ferries, and will proceed whether the Province lifts travel restrictions this summer or not. We strongly advise against non-essential travel at this time, in keeping with current Provincial health orders. We also recognize that many on the Sunshine Coast must travel for essential reasons, including work and medical appointments.

For those who must travel, we believe the trial will help smooth demand over the course of the day and reduce congestion at our terminals, making the travel experience safer for those who are travelling for essential reasons. Increasing reservations will also reduce the likelihood of customers experiencing long delays at the terminals, and will minimize the time in line-ups and public spaces.

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