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November 12, 2024
NEW CURRENT CONDITIONS OFFERS CUSTOMERS BETTER TRAVEL INSIGHT
VICTORIA, BC – Starting this morning, customers on BC Ferries’ busiest routes can now get more specific details about the status of sailings and terminal traffic, with the launch of a new beta Current Conditions site.
The new Current Conditions experience offers an improved and more intuitive way to access real-time sailing information, alongside the current version passengers are familiar with. The enhanced site still provides real-time sailing and terminal updates, now with more detail around the percentage of reservations that have been redeemed and that are still pending and may be released after the cut-off time. Together, these updates give travellers enhanced visibility to better plan their journeys.
The updated site is the first action BC Ferries is taking in response to months of in-person and virtual feedback sessions from community members and interested and impacted groups, including Community Prioritization Panel (CPP) members and Ferry Advisory Committees (FACs).
“Providing real-time information is a priority we’ve heard from the community feedback and improving Current Conditions is one way we’re meeting that need,” said Morningstar Pinto, Executive Director of External Relations at BC Ferries. “As an essential public service, hearing directly from passengers, local businesses and municipal governments better enables us in providing reliable, efficient connections across the coast. This feedback will help us address system-wide, near-term priorities while taking the necessary time to consider longer-term work and sustainability, so we can continue supporting all coastal communities effectively.”
The CPP was made up of FAC chairs, specially appointed to review and rank shared, coastal-wide priorities to help BC Ferries consider where to best focus efforts to be impactful to the customers and communities it serves. Based on this process, five key areas were identified as priorities: service reliability, scheduling, medical travel, cycling and traffic management, and vehicle staging and loading.
Other actions underway include the establishment of a task force to identify options for minimizing delays out of Horseshoe Bay terminal, expanding how BC Ferries will work with local communities and transportation partners to address congestion and improve safety at terminals, and reviewing staging and loading/unloading processes to enhance traffic flow.
The recent engagement process saw significant online participation, with a large majority of participants opting for digital channels to share their insights. This shift reflects a growing preference for accessible online options, giving a broader audience – including those unable to attend in person – the opportunity to be heard.
“We’ve learned a lot over the spring and summer by engaging directly with communities and trying out different, virtual ways of hearing from people,” Pinto added. “We’ll continue reviewing our engagement practices – including ways to provide a more accessible, equitable experience for all."
The original Current Conditions page remains available for all routes, ensuring comprehensive access to real-time information, including five more recently launched minor route webcams, bringing the total to 26. User feedback on the new Current Conditions experience is also encouraged through the site. From those passengers who complete the feedback survey, three winners will be drawn at random to receive a round-trip vehicle and passenger voucher.
BC Ferries will continue using these insights, including the success of the digital engagements, to evolve how it engages with the communities it serves and to incorporate into decisions across its routes, creating balanced, community-centred outcomes that benefit all passengers.
For more information on BC Ferries’ community engagement initiatives and to view the CPP report, please visit www.bcferriesprojects.ca/in-your-community.
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