Status quo at BC Ferries continues as travel restrictions remain
Posted May 25, 2021 5:48 pm.
Last Updated May 25, 2021 5:49 pm.
TSAWWASSEN (NEWS 1130) — With current travel restrictions in effect for another three weeks, the same rules still apply at BC Ferries.
According to Deb Marshall with BC Ferries the extended restrictions will impact the six routes that cross B.C.’s three travel “zones.”
These include:
- Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay
- Tsawwassen – Duke Point
- Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands
- Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay
- Comox – Powell River
- Port Hardy – Prince Rupert
“Our three major routes between Vancouver Island and the mainland, those will be designated for essential travel only. So ticket agents will continue to ask customers as they drive up to the toll booths there if their travel is for essential purposes or not,” Marshall adds.
The summer schedule doesn’t usually kick in until the end of June.
“This reopening mid-June as the province was indicating today, hopefully, that will occur at that time and then we’d be able to ramp up for when the province moves into phase two and then obviously into phase three for the summer.”
Over the May long weekend, Marshall says it seems British Columbians were adhering to the travel restrictions as ferries were down about 70 per cent in passengers and about 50 per cent in vehicles.
She says if we move into phase two in mid-June — they’ll look to ramp up operations in time for July and August.
“We would expect there’s going to be lots of pent-up demand and people wanting to do vacations around the province this summer. So we certainly look forward to that day.”
– With files from Ashley Burr
