Updated June 27 at 8 a.m.
The price for leaving the vehicle behind at BC Ferries’ (BCF) Langdale terminal will not be changing, despite mixed messages about an increase on the BC Ferries website and at ticket machines at the terminal on June 26.
Liza Yuzda a communications manager with BCF stated that the "adjustment implemented today (June 26) (from 12 am to 11:59 pm) on long-term rates that should not have been activated. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused and we are actively working to correct this issue and ensure the correct parking rate is reflected."
"While we expect the pay machines at terminals to be fixed by the end of the day (June 26), parking pay apps may take a day or two to update. To avoid any issues, we are encouraging anyone parking in the long-term lots this week to use the terminal credit card machines to ensure they’re charged the correct rate." Customers who paid the higher rate can contact our customer service at 1-888-BCFERRY to arrange a reimbursement for the difference."
The Southern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee chairperson, Diana Mumford told Coast Reporter via email that there was no messaging related to parking rate increases discussed at BCF's public Southern Sunshine Coast Community Prioritization Workshop held June 17 in Sechelt.
Availability more an issue than price
Langdale terminal has 287 long-and 60 short-term public parking spots. An estimate on availability of long-term parking is posted on BCF’s website. On the morning of June 26, the site showed 10 per cent of those spots were open. Last summer, there were several dates when BCF posted advisories that terminal parking at Langdale as either full or approaching that status. Those notifications recommended clients considering a ferry trip as a ‘walk-on’ passenger opt to travel to that site via transit or be dropped off by others.
Mumford noted that as far back as 2017, the FAC had suggested there needed to be a “park-n-ride option” developed. “Are there well-lit locations near a bus stop (ie in Sechelt, Roberts Creek etc.) that could be designated as parking for travel by bus to Langdale? At that time we had interest from local governments but no further action taken. It is a discussion item again that came up at both the community engagement session last week and the community session yesterday in Sechelt with the BC Ferries Authority Board,” she wrote.
A June 26 posting about the rate changes on Sunshine Coast Community Concerns and FYI Facebook page elicited less than a handful of responses in its first few hours. Those expressed views that the rates were affordable, especially when compared to parking rates in areas of BC’s lower mainland. Mumford said the SSFAC had received no complaints about the terminal parking rate change as of mid-day on June 26.
Editor's note: Based on BC Ferries' information an earlier version of this story said that parking fees were rising, which BC Ferries now confirms is not happening.
