Long-weekend travellers weathered some of the worst traffic of the year at B.C. Ferries terminals Monday.
Foot passengers at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay terminal faced a rare one-sailing wait at 1:50 p.m., while drivers faced up to three-sailing waits at Swartz Bay through the afternoon and evening.
“This is the busiest walk-on weekend of the year, by far,” B.C. Ferries’ public affairs manager Darin Guenette said.
B.C. Ferries added 10 sailings between Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay and 80 extra sailings between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen, including a final sailing at midnight, in anticipation of the rush.
Extra staff were on hand in the major terminals to ensure ticket sales went smoothly and to hand out drinks to those waiting in line, while tents were set up in case of rain, Guenette said.
“We’ve also got maximum ticket booths working and extra staff there to organize and help try to make it as bearable as possible,” Guenette said.
Traffic was lighter for those travelling to Vancouver Island from the Lower Mainland, as well as for those who made the journey before noon.
Many people made reservations well in advance to avoid the long lineups on one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Reservations for Monday on sailings between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the ferries from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen sold out at least a week in advance, as did most sailings from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay and from Duke Point to Tsawwassen.
