Mandatory Horseshoe Bay ferry reservation system now in effect

Wednesday was the first day of the new reservation system at the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal.

The mandatory ferry reservation system at the Horseshoe Bay terminal came into effect Wednesday.

It comes as 25 per cent of the terminal’s parking capacity is set to be unavailable during planned, multi-year construction.

The reservation requirement is strictly for people travelling from the Horseshoe Bay terminal to Nanaimo, and people travelling in opposite direction still have the ability to roll up to the terminal and take their chances.

“This change is really about keeping people safe and keeping traffic moving while we rebuild one our oldest and busiest terminals,” BC Ferries’ spokesperson Ritinder Matthew told CTV News on Wednesday.

“Horseshoe Bay is more than 65 years old and a lot of the infrastructure – so the elevated vehicle structure, the control tower, the berths, they all need major upgrades.”

B.C. Ferries has also introduced a booking alert system which allows people to sign up for email notifications which will be sent if space opens up on a previously sold out sailing. Those who have signed up to be notified will then be able to buy a ticket for that sailing on a first-come, first-served basis.

The company is also waiving sailing change fees on the route until the end of November as people get used to the new system.