HomeMy WebLinkAbout092225 email - WSF Monday Matters (Sept 22)ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
WSF Monday Matters
Work on SR 104 Holding Lane/Active Traffic Management System begins
The Kingston-Edmonds ferry route handles the second highest annual volume of vehicles and drivers (1.9 million/year) and the second highest volume of additional passengers (1.8 million)
in the Washington State Ferry system.
Ferry loading backups during peak times in Kingston create ferry traffic congestion, pedestrian circulation conflicts, air quality concerns from vehicle idling, and traffic circulation
gridlock within the Village Center and along State Route 104.
This project will build a ferry traffic holding lane on the shoulder of State Route 104 leading up to Lindvog Avenue. A stop light system will be installed at Lindvog Avenue for the
holding lane. An active traffic management system (ATMS) uses a boarding pass and stop light system to detect when there is space for vehicles to move to the toll booths. The light
will signal green when vehicles can proceed to toll booths.
Following construction, operational testing will take place.
From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, expect alternating one-way traffic in this area. There will also be occasional full traffic stops in both directions approaching the work
zone. Crews are scheduled to wrap up by winter.
Kitsap County, Kitsap Transit, and the Port of Kingston worked with the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Washington State Ferries (WSF) to identify and implement improvements
on SR 104 to reduce traffic issues.
Completed Sailings
For the week of Sept. 15 – Sept. 21 – we completed 99.46% of our 3,122 scheduled sailings. Of the 19 cancellations, 95% (18) were due to schedule resets (when a boat is so far behind
schedule, we cancel a sailing to get it back on schedule, providing predictability for customers) and 5% (1) was due to an emergency.
For comparison, during a similar period last year (September 16 – September 22, 2024), we completed 97.2% of our 2,825 scheduled sailings. Of the 83 cancellations that week, 69% (57)
were due to crewing, 16% (13) were due to schedule resets, 15% (12) were due to tidal currents, and 1% (1) was due to other miscellaneous reasons.
Customer Service Alerts
For the week of Sept. 15 – Sept 21 - our customer service team sent 100 rider alerts, received 2,538 customer calls, and fielded more than 205 written comments and emails related to
reservations, schedules, and fares.
WSF Weekly Media Highlights
Wenatchee returns to service after complete motor issue plagues ferry <https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/wenatchee-returns-to-service-after-complex-motor-issue-plagues-ferry/>
The Seattle Times
I Want To Go To Maritime High School <https://48north.com/news/i-want-to-go-to-maritime-high-school/> 48 North Magazine
New schedule for Anacortes to San Juan Island ferry to stay in place through spring <https://mybellinghamnow.com/news/297792-new-schedule-for-anacortes-to-san-juan-island-ferry-to-stay-in-place-throu
gh-spring/> My Bellingham Now
Vessel Availability
We fully implemented our 18-vessel service this summer, returning to almost full domestic service – three years earlier than originally planned.
During the weekend, Sunday, Sept. 21, we began our fall sailing season closing out a summer sailing season which preliminary data shows could be the busiest summer in years. Expect highlights
and a recap later this week in WSF Weekly.
Sunday’s sailing season change will also bring small adjustments to our Edmonds/Kingston <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.com%2FFerries%2FSchedule%2Fscheduledetailbyroute.aspx%3
Froute=ed-king/1/010001995e3434e5-bd5c3c68-4902-4055-a940-14688b55e756-000000/JjrN8zw888asr48HOvfueLjpRRw2I8FTrHupnVjkL4w=423> , Mukilteo/Clinton <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdo
t.com%2FFerries%2FSchedule%2Fscheduledetailbyroute.aspx%3Froute=muk-cl/1/010001995e3434e5-bd5c3c68-4902-4055-a940-14688b55e756-000000/iiIRxPu05eKzllrtTf9mf7s3sJ1od1z4KuyTXnnnvkc=423>
and Fauntleroy <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.com%2FFerries%2FSchedule%2Fscheduledetailbyroute.aspx%3Froute=f-v-s/1/010001995e3434e5-bd5c3c68-4902-4055-a940-14688b55e756-000
000/kPuTSL-Jz5lAkQuGTG8DOkI6W8UMFOLAVGMsTM7s5Hk=423> /Vashon <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.com%2FFerries%2FSchedule%2Fscheduledetailbyroute.aspx%3Froute=s-v/1/010001995e3434e
5-bd5c3c68-4902-4055-a940-14688b55e756-000000/NFCu8mKBJu1-4iO8pIPb9JiL0_joLPXAK9hyjNP4tXo=423> /Southworth <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.com%2FFerries%2FSchedule%2Fschedulede
tailbyroute.aspx%3Froute=f-s/1/010001995e3434e5-bd5c3c68-4902-4055-a940-14688b55e756-000000/40tQWk7y3aHIg4Zp0YjWMvVr9fcOk1nTGXQpCT8lP9k=423> routes. On our Port Townsend/Coupeville
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.com%2FFerries%2FSchedule%2Fscheduledetailbyroute.aspx%3Froute=pt-key/1/010001995e3434e5-bd5c3c68-4902-4055-a940-14688b55e756-000000/EQCx9wH2Y6z
Ft_addy8Sy3FEDosyOnNDomnK1AJsnZ4=423> run, the late-night 10 and 10:40 p.m. round trips will end after Sunday, Oct. 12, and return next spring. That’s also the last day we will operate
a second boat on that route until spring. Our fall sailing season runs through Saturday, Dec. 27.
Hybrid Conversions/New Vessels/Terminal Electrification
New Vessels – Governor Bob Ferguson selected the $714.5 million bid from Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group to build three new 160-vehicle hybrid-electric ferries. We will move
forward with the contracting process, following the first competitive bid for ferry construction in more than 25 years.
Terminal Electrification – Vessel charging system proposals have been reviewed and an award announcement is expected soon.
WSF Community Engagement and Government Relations
Ferry Advisory Executive Committee meeting – Thursday @ 4 p.m.