Starting June 27, all drivers will need to visit bchydro.com/buntzen to make a vehicle reservation the day before their visit to Buntzen Lake.
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Anyone who has attempted to have a summer beach day at Buntzen Lake in Anmore knows how early you have to get there for a parking spot.
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But that’s about to change as BC Hydro has announced it is launching a new free parking online reservation system for Buntzen Lake to help reduce traffic congestion in the area.
Starting June 27, all drivers will need to visit bchydro.com/buntzen to make a vehicle reservation the day before their visit to Buntzen Lake. It’s not clear how this will be enforced.
“Buntzen Lake is an incredible place to visit throughout the year, but we know it’s especially busy during the summer months,” said Rick Glumac, MLA for Port Moody-Coquitlam, in a statement Wednesday.
“My hope is that the new online reservation system being piloted by BC Hydro will help reduce frustration around parking so that families and visitors can fully enjoy the incredible outdoor experience that Buntzen Lake offers.”
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Mayor of Anmore John McEwan said, in the statement, that residents have had to deal with excessive traffic back-ups the last few years and he is pleased to see BC Hydro bring in a reservation system for parking.
BC Hydro has been developing the system for several months and says similar parking reservation systems used by other agencies have significantly reduced vehicle traffic.
Users will have the option of booking a pass to access the parking lot for a morning or afternoon time slot. Reservations are connected to vehicle license plates and are non-transferable.
BC Hydro said all-day passes will not be offered at this time. Visitors entering the park by transit or on foot do not require a pass.
More than 700,000 visitors access the hiking trails and swimming areas at Buntzen Lake each year, according to the agency.
In July 2021, nearly 116,000 visitors used a vehicle to access Buntzen Lake. This is up from about 83,000 in July 2019.
The pilot project begins June 27 and will run until September 5.