The BVIPA’s assurance comes days after Opposition Leader Marlon Penn expressed concern that sister islands will suffer greatly once they start using the Pier Park as their port of entry to and from Tortola.

The BVIPA said once the decision was made to reroute domestic travel through the Tortola Pier Park, it began discussions with domestic ferry partners to ensure a seamless transition for staff, crew members and travellers.

“Decisions were made on ensuring the following: adequate parking, a continuation of current ferry schedule, transportation of cargo, ticket counters that meet health and safety protocols and the overall health and safety of employees and sister island travellers utilising the BVIPA’s ports,” the BVIPA said in a statement on Friday.

Adequate parking

Penn had said residents would bear an additional burden because of the difficulty in finding parking and a designated loading location at the Pier Park.

However, the BVIPA has assured that they are working with the Ministry of Transportation, and authorities at the Pier Park to establish dedicated parking areas for domestic travellers and a holding area for taxi operators.

“These works are ongoing to facilitate the upcoming influx of traffic that will be routed through the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park due to the separation of ferry operations,” the BVIPA stated.

The Authority also said passengers disembarking the ferry at the excursion dock will have a dedicated route to the area reserved for taxi operators.

And according to the BVIPA, this dedicated route has been designed to be fully accessible and is equipped with ramps to assist with traversing the excursion dock, luxury deck, boardwalk and proceeding through the exit gate to the holding area for taxi operators.