— from Washington State Ferries —
The 2015 WSF Winter Ferry Performance survey has been completed and the results are now available online.
The online survey of Washington State Ferry Riders Opinion Group (FROG) was conducted March-April, 2015 regarding their personal experience riding Washington State Ferries during the recent winter travel period (December 28, 2014 to March 21, 2015). The results of a total of 2,474 interviews was compiled and data was weighted by route and boarding method based on the last trip taken.
Riders on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands (29%), Fauntleroy/Vashon (29%), San Juan Interisland (27%) routes continue to express the highest overall dissatisfaction, however both ANA/SJI and SJI have seen significant decreases in dissatisfaction. Riders on the Edmonds/Kingston route have shown a slight increase in overall dissatisfaction (19%; +6).
The survey was meaningless. It asked general questions, nothing specific, and ignored the reservation system. I rated the ferry system pretty high, but I did so because the question was phrased as my satisfaction with the ferry system, NOT the reservation system, which has made the ferry a miserable experience for me.
Reservation System needs to go away!
As in Orcas Island resident and regular ferry I enjoy the pleasure of being able to know that I can leave the island and come back onto the island without difficulty as long as I plan ahead, be that two months,two weeks or two days in advance. I am sure that I am not alone in this feeling but I would like to know more specifically what the objections to the reservation system are.
There needs to be a way that a medical emergency can be accommodated at the last minute. The people on Orcas have figured a way but it shouldn’t take local knowledge. Other than that, if we know when we want to go off and on early enough the system is great.
I disagree! The reservation system simply isn’t great for anyone but tourists!!!! I had a medical emergency and the reservation system did not work at all because it was a busy tourist weekend! First, there needs to be an extra lane in Anacortes so that if there is lots of traffic, those with reservation/medicals can get to the ferry lot. If you can’t get to the booths/lot, your reservation doesn’t do you any good at all! You are left sitting in the lines up the hill… And every time I have asked anyone within the system questions, I get a different (or an untrue) answer! On a busy Friday afternoon you must be at the Anacortes terminal 3 to 4 hours early even with a reservation or a medical boarding! That is no improvement and much worse for medicals! I feel as if I am tired of having to fight the new system! Merry
Merry,
I have to disagree with your statement that the reservation system is not great for anyone but tourists.
It has worked extremely well for us. On 2 separate occations we were able to book a return reservation on a Friday afternoon from Anacortes during peak season 2 days in advance, and showed up an hour in advance with no problems.
Last year trying to do this would have meant showing up MANY hours in advance and maybe not even making a ferry for MANY more hours.
Chris Sutton