Customers, businesses react to first day of reduced ferry and bridge tolls

Friday marked the first day of reduced ferry tolls between North Sydney, N.S., and Newfoundland.

Friday marked the first day that fares are half the price they used to be for the ferry service between North Sydney, N.S. and Newfoundland.

For one couple getting on the boat, the timing couldn’t have been better.

“We’re moving to Newfoundland from Ontario,” said Susan Deary, who was travelling with her husband Douglas Best.

While everyday passengers get to take advantage of the 50 per cent price reduction on Marine Atlantic ferries, it doesn’t apply to commercial traffic - instead, truckers’ rates are being frozen going forward.

“We already prepaid for it, and we actually got a refund on my Visa,” Deary said. “I think it’s fantastic.”

However, Northside area councillor, Gordon MacDonald, said while the lower cost is great for travelers - himself included - he would like to see more done to direct visitors into the communities that are immediately off the ferry, rather than those areas getting bypassed as soon as vehicles hit the highway.

“There’s things that need to be changed in order for our area - North Sydney, Sydney Mines - to be able to gain the benefits from all these tourists coming in,” MacDonald said. “Maybe like, have a taxi company service them for a couple of hours while they’re there. To go to the Atlantic Memorial Park, the Fossil Centre, Munro Park, those areas within District 1 and 2.”

Friday also marked the first day that the ferry between Nova Scotia and P.E.I. is half-price.

The Confederation Bridge toll is now $20, from a previous $50.25.

The owner of Copper Bottom Brewing in Montague, P.E.I., near the Wood Islands ferry, said a lot of Island businesses stand to benefit.

“We’re really impacted by the ferry schedule - like, even the times when the ferries weren’t running, we noticed a really big difference,” said brewery co-owner Ashley Condon. “I think we’re seeing more people travelling in general, so I think this will just be even more motivation to come to P.E.I. in the earlier springtime and maybe into the fall.”

Riders of the Newfoundland ferry shared a similar sentiment about what this might mean for visitorship to The Rock.

“And people will now be able to go to Newfoundland more often,” Deary said.

Unlike the Newfoundland ferry, the P.E.I. ferry rate reductions apply to all traffic - including truckers.