Weekly check-in with Washington State Ferries

||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

Presentations to state legislators

Chief of Staff Nicole McIntosh and I provided state legislators with an update on WSF last week. My presentation to the Senate Transportation Committee Work Session included information on workforce development, current staffing levels, Service Restoration Plan (PDF 794KB), Diversity Advisory Group, electrification plans and terminal improvements such as our projects in Seattle, Bainbridge and Fauntleroy. Around the same time, Nicole was presenting to the House Transportation Committee Work Session, providing a workforce update that focused on recruitment and retention efforts. We also both thanked legislators for two transportation funding packages passed in the 2022 legislative session that provides us with a good down payment that invests in a more sustainable operation.

I started my presentation to the Senate Transportation Committee with an overview of our system and our latest ridership numbers.

Service restoration update

As far as our Service Restoration Plan, our latest Progress Report (PDF 632KB) shows reliability is close to 100% on our three restored routes – Anacortes/San Juan Islands, Seattle/Bainbridge and Mukilteo/Clinton. Even our next run up for restoration – Edmonds/Kingston – hit 97% over the past two weeks.  As I mentioned last month, we’re now on track to restore full service on our Edmonds/Kingston route early next year. While we continue to vigorously recruit and hire new employees, the timing of full restoration on our Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, Seattle/Bremerton and Port Townsend/Coupeville runs is dependent on the number of licensed deck officers (captains and mates) who complete training in the first half of 2023. We do not anticipate being able to restore Sidney, British Columbia service any sooner than summer 2023.

Six new hires train in life-saving appliances at Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility as part of Engine New Employee Orientation last month. They’re now working out in the fleet!

Colman Dock slip change

Beginning Monday, Dec. 12 at Colman Dock, the Bainbridge route will move from Slip 1 to 2 for roughly three weeks due to electrical work. Also starting that day, all Bainbridge and Bremerton walk-ons must exit our Seattle terminal on the balcony along the north side of the new terminal building for about two weeks as crews perform concrete work on the south side. Please follow directions from our employees and sign up for rider alerts for updates as these timelines may adjust and for additional slip changes in January.

50-year service award

I had the pleasure of presenting Staff Chief Engineer Mike Bryne with a very rare 50-year service award at our Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility yesterday! Congratulations Mike and thanks for your decades of hard work!

“Kudos to ferry employees [terminal attendants] Matthew M[obley] and Keith L[und] for being so helpful and persistent. Waiting for Seattle to Bainbridge ferry and when I tried to start the car the battery was completely dead and none of the electronics worked. The car is a hybrid with the battery in the trunk and the trunk latch did not work.

“Matthew and Keith kept trying to figure out how to charge the battery in between loading the ferries. They never gave up and finally after about an hour of trying various things they solved the problem and were able to access the trunk through the back seat. They charged my battery. It was a great relief and I was impressed with their kindness and perseverance. Thank you so much guys!”

-Seattle/Bainbridge customer