BC Ferries is continuing engagement on the future of Horseshoe Bay terminal and wants customers and communities to share their feedback on draft terminal concepts.
The company is launching online engagement from now until Oct. 13 and is holding a community engagement event from 4 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 7 at the Gleneagles Golf Course in West Vancouver.
Last year, BC Ferries completed the third phase of the engagement program. The company heard from more than 1,500 people about what is important to them when they think about the future of the terminal at Horseshoe Bay.
The major themes that emerged during this phase related to efficiency, ensuring accessibility for all modes of transportation and creating benefit for and integration with the village of Horseshoe Bay. A full report summarizing the feedback received is available online at bcferries.com/about/hsbterminal.
BC Ferries developed the draft terminal concepts using this feedback. Now, the company wants to explore these concepts with customers and communities.
The input BC Ferries collects will be used to help further refine the concepts.
Examples of where BC Ferries incorporated previous input into the draft concepts include paying particular attention to efficiency upgrades that help create better traffic flow for loading and unloading vehicles, and the need to keep fares affordable.
In later phases of the plan, BC Ferries will be exploring the creation of a community and transportation hub at the terminal – something the company heard is important for community and customers alike.
“We’ve developed these draft concepts with what we heard, and now we want to further define them with more input from the community,” said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ Vice President, Strategy & Community Engagement. “The Horseshoe Bay terminal plays a significant role in connecting communities and customers. This makes it a good time to get more detailed input on how we improve the terminal to meet the community’s future growth and emerging needs.”
BC Ferries will put together a summary report and post it online following collection of feedback on the draft concepts. The company will take the feedback and, where possible, incorporate it to refine the design. BC Ferries expects to come back out in the community and present the preferred design next year.
The Horseshoe Bay Terminal Development Plan (TDP) is a 25-year plan for the future of the terminal. The current terminal is at capacity, making it difficult and sometimes challenging for customers to travel. In addition, some of the terminal’s infrastructure will soon be in need of replacement, making this a good time to explore how BC Ferries can improve the terminal.
Redeveloping the terminal will improve the connection with communities and support growth in the region. BC Ferries expects construction to begin on the first phase in the mid-2020s. Get more information at bcferries.com/about/hsbterminal.
Residents have to be priority boarding
I would love to see a public boat launch placed along side the ferry terminal.
It would be great for emergency crews and the public.
We have one public launch for the whole of Howe Sound!
The current reservation system has to change, it is not right, that when I arrive at the terminal in Langdale or Horseshoe Bay 1 1/2 hours early, that I can’t make the ferry, because all the reservations come first. Also this reservation system favours the people who have the money for reservations. There are many pensioners like me living on the Sunshine Coast on a fixed income which is shrinking every year.