HomeMy WebLinkAbout013025 WSF Weekly UpdateALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
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Jan. 30, 2025
A message from Steve
We’re turning the ship around. At Washington State Ferries, we are committed to delivering service excellence, one of our three strategic priorities. We know over the last several years,
we have fallen short of meeting expectations. However, in recent months, several indicators show things are improving. The latest indicator came last week, when we completed 100% of
our scheduled sailings!
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For the week of Jan. 20-26, we completed 100% of our 2,728 scheduled sailings. As a reminder, this figure is separate from on-time performance <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.w
a.gov%2Ftravel%2Fwashington-state-ferries%2Fabout-us%2Fferries-accountability-and-service-data%2Ftime-performance-reports/1/01000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a-000000/x7oPOCmCeBme5K
ue6n1NY2DMT-E4IsZArfeP2XGelSc=390> .
We know there’s still work to do and that we may have rough weeks ahead, especially in the busier summer months. But we are moving in the right direction, toward a more dependable and
resilient ferry system. The recent achievement reflects the dedication of our employees, especially our dispatch and maintenance teams, who work tirelessly to ensure our vessels are
fully crewed and in good repair. With each step forward, we’re proving we truly are turning the ship around as we navigate toward a brighter future.
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Virtual public meetings, Feb. 12 and 13
Mark your calendar! We’re hosting two virtual community meetings next month to provide the latest information on service restoration, building new ferries, electrification and the legislative
sessions. The meetings will be at noon Wednesday, Feb. 12, and 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. The meetings will cover the same material. Participants will be able to ask questions and provide
comments. Advance registration <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.wa.gov%2Ftravel%2Fwashington-state-ferries%2Fabout-us%2Fcommunity-participation/1/01000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903
-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a-000000/ZBEkF3bmv45xFlUNM_enWKBd2dPdYN8U1r3u7nnm36Q=390> is required. Email us <mailto:wsfcomms@wsdot.wa.gov> if you would like to send in questions ahead of
the meetings.
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Decommissioned ferry Elwha sold to Everett Ship Repair
Everett Ship Repair has purchased the decommissioned Elwha for $100,000 <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.wa.gov%2Fabout%2Fnews%2F2025%2Fwashington-state-ferries-sells-elwha/1/01
000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a-000000/zvU0V8TUJz-9RtnVmI6lVc0TWwU95VdKJQzraT_C-XE=390> . The shipyard plans to convert the retired 144-car vessel into a floating
office and warehouse. Built in the 1960s, Elwha primarily served the Anacortes/Friday Harbor/Sidney, British Columbia route. It was retired in 2020. We are working to sell and transfer
our two remaining decommissioned boats, Klahowya and Hyak, to free up dock space at Eagle Harbor for maintenance on our current fleet.
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A tugboat towed Elwha from our Bainbridge terminal to Everett Ship Repair this morning.
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Anacortes/San Juan Islands schedule update task force meeting
Our Anacortes/San Juan Islands schedule update <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.wa.gov%2Fconstruction-planning%2Fsearch-studies%2Fanacortes-san-juan-islands-schedule-update/1/01
000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a-000000/ogKeBz7WAYYrcHcVAUf6EEH7oxPeWbVomKk0lNe1OsQ=390> task force met yesterday to review how the new winter sailing times are working.
We are looking at many factors, like on-time performance, ferry capacity and allotments, to see how the schedule is performing. We’re working with the community, ferry staff and elected
officials to measure its success. The group also discussed next steps for the spring schedule.
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Vehicle reservations <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fsecureapps.wsdot.wa.gov%2Fferries%2Freservations%2Fvehicle%2Fdefault.aspx/1/01000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a
-000000/ssO1RiKJxeYb3b3GI00UpAMg22u4hM5lPmI0jmf-G_M=390> for our spring season (March 23 to June 14) are now available. This includes 30% of space for our updated Anacortes/San Juan
Islands schedule. Another 30% will be available two weeks before each specific sailing and another 30% two days before. The two-week and two-day release times are at 7 a.m. For our
Port Townsend/Coupeville route, 80% of vehicle reservations space is available. For both routes, all remaining space is kept open for emergency and stand-by vehicles.
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Want to work for us? Apply for a scholarship to get your maritime credentials
To work as a deck or engine room crewmember aboard our vessels, you need maritime credentials. People new to the industry will need a Merchant Mariner Credential <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/
https:%2F%2Fwww.dco.uscg.mil%2Fnmc%2Fmerchant_mariner_credential%2F/1/01000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a-000000/_XiwvVzXp1rDNJqQyVcmWXdzpQRbe0TD_O8XxjqJtjE=390> and
a Transportation Worker Identification Credential <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.tsa.gov%2Ftwic/1/01000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a-000000/KCS2rLQXvfzyBPYWQ
1snRvuC-RpOnuHlC7ozlxO4GPI=390> . If you want to work for WSF and need help paying for these, you can now apply for a scholarship aimed at reducing barriers to the maritime industry.
Applications are open until May 16, or until funds run out. Over 50 scholarships will be given. For more information about this program check out the scholarship website <https://links-1.govdelivery
.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.wa.gov%2Ftravel%2Fwashington-state-ferries%2Fabout-us%2Femployment-washington-state-ferries%2Fmaritime-credential-scholarships/1/01000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21
dc7c31c93a-000000/4E6Gtu1Eha1fMR18yNuWIax6TLTpxo0e2fTYXMY20PE=390> .
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Youth Maritime Career Launch graduation
Our three engine room interns graduated from the Port of Seattle’s Youth Maritime Career Launch <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.portseattle.org%2Fprograms%2Fyouth-maritime-career
-launch/1/01000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a-000000/Hbw0mddbkmxvcXvT9izYvbe8n6LP9EbPOFqCKupwc_Q=390> program Saturday. The three-month paid internship connects young
adults ages 18-24 to permanent maritime employment opportunities. Our intern last year, Martrez Darden <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv=TgaruEsA6wE%26t=20
s/1/01000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a-000000/AxqB-FUXKUHOlpfxsZVyGxLkdzewfnQQktpr5yl4ejM=390> , now works with us as an oiler. Like Martrez, we hope Monet Davis,
Mae Idyl and Audrey Rue consider a career with us. Congratulations to the three of them.
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Engine room interns Audrey Rue (left) and Monet Davis (right) at the Youth Maritime Career Launch graduation ceremony Saturday at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center on the
Seattle waterfront.
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Passenger pick up and drop off at our Seattle terminal just got easier
The city of Seattle has completed street, sidewalk and utility work in front of our entry building at Colman Dock <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.wa.gov%2Fconstruction-planning
%2Fsearch-projects%2Fferries-seattle-multimodal-terminal-colman-dock-project/1/01000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a-000000/QGL2Wg8VzNsjynzAf_BzT5tlXH6VSSXcJ2pu_hLRE0A=390>
. This means the long-awaited passenger pickup and drop-off area is now open, as well as the taxi waiting area. Signs along Alaskan Way note each designated area where drivers can stop
for a short time.
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The passenger pickup and drop-off area at our Seattle terminal is located on the west side of Alaskan Way, south of Marion Street. The taxi waiting area is to the north.
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SR 305 Agate Pass Bridge weekday delays Feb. 18-27
An early heads up for our Seattle/Bainbridge route riders! You may want to plan for extra travel time in mid-to-late February if you use the State Route 305 Agate Pass Bridge. On Tuesday,
Feb. 18, through Thursday, Feb. 27, the bridge will be reduced to one alternating lane of traffic from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekday for annual bridge maintenance work <https://links-1.govdeliver
y.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.wa.gov%2Fconstruction-planning%2Fsearch-projects%2Fsr-305-agate-pass-bridge-annual-maintenance/1/01000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a-000000/yiZ0rvlMgdwmc
Z4Ti3vonv_CjrUHQDFsCCVU9KUE-lg=390> . There will be no lane closures on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 22 and 23. Travelers can expect 30-minute delays, if not more. Consider traveling early
or late in the day or reschedule discretionary trips. Other alternatives include taking the Bremerton or Kingston ferries.
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The SR 305 Agate Pass Bridge will be reduced to one alternating lane of traffic from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekday from Feb. 18-27.
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SR 20 roadwork near Port Townsend terminal
Plan for possible travel delays near our Port Townsend terminal for the next four months. The city is replacing sewer lines <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcityofpt.us%2Fengagept%2Fp
age%2Fwater-street-sewer-replacement-project-0/1/01000194b904b0f3-c00f096a-8903-421c-8981-21dc7c31c93a-000000/RVg-5JRn9p2cbbmN0FBJvwnsP8PtfFKK9ROicOOdmZA=390> on State Route 20/Water
Street west of the dock. The road may be reduced to one alternating lane of traffic and the bike lane may be closed during work hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Travelers will be guided
by flaggers when necessary. We expect little to no disruption to traffic entering and exiting the terminal.
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Customer kudos
“… I travel on the ferry once a week round trip on the Bainbridge run and there are a few cashiers and workers that make the experience super pleasurable and really embody what it means
to be a Washington state ferry worker. Mary (Nygard) that works at the Seattle dock as a drive on cashier is the literal highlight of my dogs week. She is so nice, friendly, and professional
that I get sad when I get other workers at her booth as does my Pup.
“On the Bainbridge side Tashia (Hurlburt, ticket seller) and her coworkers at those cashier booths (Ticket Sellers Vanessa Camanse-Wolf, Rachel Keller and Nena Reichert) go above and
beyond to make sure the experience at the window is still personable. even when it has to be quick they never seem tired or fed up, or stressed at all and it is a nice change of pace
from other guest service experiences post pandemic.
“There is also an older gentleman with a white beard (terminal employee Will Granstrom) that directs traffic on the Seattle side that is just as personable as the others I have named.
These few people really go above and beyond to make my trip a truly smooth experience and it is so valued and they deserve credit for the good work they put in.”
-Seattle/Bainbridge route customer
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Steve Nevey
Assistant Secretary, WSDOT/Ferries Division
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