Massive lineups at BC Ferries’ Tsawwassen terminal are causing 3-sailing waits and plenty of frustrated passengers.
“It is very very busy,” said Darren Guenette, public affairs manager.
“It’s an all-out effort to be as fair as we can.”
Beginning at around 2 p.m. this afternoon, there have been multi-sailing waits from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. As of 6:35 p.m., the 7, 8 and 9 p.m. sailings are already 100 per cent full.
(For conditions at all terminals, click here)
Guenette says that with all ferries running smoothly, the only reason for the logjam is exceptionally high demand.
“It’s just peak summer travel, busy traffic, great weather, a couple big concert events on both sides. There’s no other reasons,” he said.
Traffic controllers are on the causeway assisting, and Guenette urges people who have reservations and are stuck in line to be patient. He says BC Ferries can notice from their tower where people are in line, and if they arrive by the cutoff point, all efforts will be made to get them on their reserved sailing.
He says no plans have been made yet for an extra sailing from Tsawwassen tonight, but that BC Ferries is monitoring the situation.
As for people planning on leaving Swartz Bay for Tsawwassen on Sunday?
Be prepared and leave early.
“The counterflow at the end of the weekend is usually from Vancouver Island. If you’ve got an ability to go early, if you haven’t made reservations…you can try for early morning or late night, try and prepare if you can,” says Guenette.