The seniors’ discount on passenger fares on B.C. Ferries has been restored to 100 per cent, from 50 per cent.
B.C. residents over 65 can ride for free Monday to Thursday, although the vehicle fare still applies. Holiday Mondays are excluded.
The changes took effect April 1.
It’s part of the B.C. government decision to roll back fares 15 per cent on minor routes and to freeze fares on the three major routes between Vancouver Island and the mainland. A scheduled fare increase of 1.9 per cent will not go ahead, B.C. Ferries said in a statement.
These measures, which were included in the B.C. NDP’s election platform, were confirmed in the provincial budget.
B.C. Ferries and the province reached an agreement to fund the reductions at a cost of $43.2 million in 2019 and $54.8 million in 2020, for a total of $98 million. Of that, B.C. Ferries is contributing $39 million, while the province is contributing $59 million.
“We are focused on the affordability of ferry travel. Our present financial position allows us to use some of our net earnings to reduce fares for our customers,” said Mark Collins, president and chief executive officer of B.C. Ferries.
“This major additional contribution by the province expands efforts to improve affordability.”
B.C. Ferries has also reduced the buy-in level for Experience Cards by 15 per cent, to $95 for vehicle and driver and $55 for passenger fares.
Reservation fees have been reduced to $10 from $15 for customers who book seven days in advance. Reservations made between one and seven days in advance are $17, and those booked the day of travel are $21.
The cost of 10 assured-loading tickets is unchanged at $1,550.
B.C. Ferries said it will continue to offer discounts on some sailings to help move traffic to less busy times and open up space on popular sailings. The company said it will announce the discounted sailings closer to times of availability.
The company said net earnings are used to provide fare discounts and hold or reduce fares, to invest in new vessels and terminals, to improve service by increasing the number of sailings, and to lessen borrowing to lower the interest paid on debt.
