HomeMy WebLinkAbout081825 email - Outreach on San Juan Islands Ferry Terminal Closures (2027)ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Elected officials, community leaders and others from ferry-served communities:
In the spring of 2027, WSF is planning to upgrade the vehicle transfer spans at five of our ferry terminals. The mechanical lift systems at Coupeville, Anacortes, Orcas Island, Lopez
Island, and Edmonds terminals have been in operation for several decades and are at the end of their lifespans. Upgrading the vehicle transfer span systems improves safety for our crews
and reliability for our passengers. It also standardizes operations for our terminal and vessel staff who rotate among our terminals. Additional information is available in the attached
flier.
A portion of this work requires 48-hour service closures at three of the five terminals—Coupeville (meaning the entire Port Townsend/Coupeville route will be out of service), Lopez Island
and Orcas Island. This project also includes a partial closure at Anacortes, where the main slip will be closed for one week with minimal effect on service. Work at these four terminals
must be completed sequentially over five weeks in the following order: Anacortes; Coupeville; Orcas Island; Lopez Island. Upgrades to the Edmonds terminal are also planned, but do
not require any daytime closures, and the timing is not dependent on work at the other terminals.
WSF is proposing to complete this work in March and April 2027, with specific dates to be determined closer to the start of work. The proposed timeframe already considers: avoiding
busy summer and holiday seasons; avoiding weekdays to minimize impacts on commuter/school traffic (unless communities would prefer closures during the weekdays of spring break); fish
window constraints and other regulatory considerations; seasonal weather conditions; and contractor availability.
You can help our early planning by sending me any comments or concerns now, especially around:
• Potential community conflicts or other scheduling considerations within the proposed work window (March 1- May 9, 2027) that might help determine when this work
could be completed with the smallest impact. I know this is a long way away, but examples could include community events or festivals, school or athletic events, etc.
• Specific concerns or considerations around terminal closures, and how to minimize impacts to the community. Examples could include emergency services access, commercial
delivery schedules, time of day, etc.
• Things to keep in mind when communicating these closures to San Juan County residents and visitors. Examples could include specific methods we could use, specific
audiences that we should include that we don’t typically reach out to, etc.
Our team will be engaging with ferry advisory committees and others in the coming months. I would be happy to set up a meeting if you’d like to discuss further. Please feel free to
reach out with any questions.
Hadley
Hadley Rodero (she/her)
Deputy Director, External Relations | Washington State Ferries
C: 206-818-3813| E: hadley.rodero@wsdot.wa.gov <mailto:hadley.rodero@wsdot.wa.gov>