Update from BC Ferries
25-Year Vision for Swartz Bay Terminal
Hello Swartz Bay and Southern Gulf Islands ferry travellers and community members;
We are excited to share the Swartz Bay Terminal Development Plan (TDP) with you. The TDP outlines a longterm vision for the terminal’s future, and a phased plan for implementing the changes envisioned in the plan. We will be at the terminal early next month to share the TDP with travellers. You can also find the TDP on the Swartz Bay project page at bcferries.com/about/ terminal-development-planning. Please read below for more details.
How we got here
Last spring, BC Ferries launched an engagement process to collect community input to help shape future plans for Swartz Bay terminal, including improved passenger buildings, amenities and operational facilities. We heard from more than 1,000 people through this effort and identified several key considerations. In September, we held another round of engagement and presented draft concepts for the future of the terminal. Since then, we’ve reviewed the feedback we received from the sessions and incorporated it where we could into the final TDP.
Presenting the plan
In addition to meeting with key stakeholders, we want to share the approved plan with you. We will be holding sessions at the Swartz Bay terminal from April 10 to 13. We’d like to tell you how we incorporated your feedback, such as the development of proposed cycling routes for cyclists entering and leaving the terminal, and a waterfront park area. You can also view the plan by visiting the Swartz Bay page at bcferries.com/about/terminaldevelopment-planning.
Next steps
This plan is a 25-year vision for the future of the terminal. Implementation will occur in phases, with the first phase starting in the early 2020s and focusing on improving road access, parking and pick-up/drop-off areas. This area is a priority to ensure we continue to meet the operational demands of this busy terminal and is important to allow for future phases to be implemented. We will be engaging with customers on the detailed designs for each phase, and will involve the community in identifying potential construction impacts and how we can reduce or eliminate them. BC Ferries has allocated funds in our 12-year Capital Plan (fiscal 2019 through 2030) to support the priority improvements. Other improvements to the terminal, including passenger buildings and amenities, will be considered within future Capital Plans, and implemented as funding becomes available. All of our TDPs are regularly reviewed and refreshed to ensure they address the changing travel demands and the needs of our customers. We engage with the community throughout our planning process, including any time a refresh is required. As the 25-year vision for the Swartz Bay terminal, this TDP will help to guide the future development of the terminal, while remaining flexible to changing needs and community input. We look forward to sharing the plan with you. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at brian.green@bcferries.com. Thanks for reading,