||| FROM NICOLE MCINTOSH for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||
Thanksgiving weekend ferry travel
Carve out some extra time if your Thanksgiving travel plans include a state ferry ride. In addition to the long vehicle lines over holiday weekends, all passengers should prepare for possible last-minute schedule changes. Edmonds/Kingston route travelers should plan for reduced one-boat service due to limited vessel availability. To avoid potential long waits when boarding a vessel in a vehicle, customers are encouraged to download and check our mobile app before heading to the terminal for service updates and real-time conditions.
The busiest sailings for vehicles will likely be westbound (or onto an island) Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 22-23, then eastbound (or off island) Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24-25.
To reduce or eliminate waiting, riders may consider taking an early morning or late-night sailing or by using transit to walk or bike onto the ferry if possible. On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, there will be a few schedule changes on some routes. Holiday sailings are marked on the schedules for each route. Please join me in thanking our employees for their hard work over the long Thanksgiving weekend as they do their best to ensure that riders get to and from their holiday destinations safely.
Vessel tour for diverse middle schoolers
A new and diverse generation of mariners will be key in building and maintaining our workforce. We welcomed seven middle schoolers and their two chaperones on a tour of Chetzemoka on Nov. 4. The group is part of the Sea Potential program that helps attract diverse students to maritime jobs. Thank you to both the deck and engine room crews for spending time with them and answering their questions. This is Sea Potential’s third tour with us, and we’re excited to see these terrific young people interested in maritime and learning what the field is all about!
Sea Potential students with their chaperones and Director of Planning, Customer and Government Relations John Vezina, who led the tour aboard Chetzemoka.
Young Professionals in Transportation tour Issaquah
We also hosted members of Young Professionals in Transportation – Seattle aboard Issaquah on Nov. 3. Director of Terminal Engineering David Sowers guided the tour, which included the wheelhouse and engine room during a roundtrip sailing between Seattle and Bainbridge Island. YPT’s mission is, “To connect young professionals and cultivate the future leaders within the transportation industry.” Thanks to David and the crew for being great hosts!
Young Professionals in Transportation – Seattle members on the outdoor deck of Issaquah with Director of Terminal Engineering David Sowers.
The Lighthouse for the Blind staff visits Colman Dock
Staff from The Lighthouse for the Blind visited our newly completed Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock Project on Nov. 7 to get an overview of the site layout. They also wanted to see how the facility is navigated, what wayfinding features are available and identify locations of three tactile maps. The maps are used as orientation for people who are blind or have low vision. They are another critical element to providing equal access, along with tactile wayfinding strips on the upper level at Colman Dock, both inside the terminal building and the outdoor pedestrian areas. Like the strips seen at Sound Transit light rail stations, this wayfinding tool helps people who use canes to navigate transit facilities independently.
Our terminal design engineers and Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator with staff from The Lighthouse for the Blind at Colman Dock in Seattle.
Terminal employees complete emergency response program
Several of our terminal employees recently participated in the Workplace Community Emergency Response Team program to learn about disaster preparedness. The three-day course covers fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. This valuable program helps our workforce be better prepared in case of emergencies and/or crisis. The goal of the course is to build resiliency within our staff operations.
The class included a day of hands-on training at the Bainbridge Island Fire Department’s Station 23 and two days at our Seattle headquarters.
Dedication ceremony for new flagpole at Bainbridge terminal
A dedication ceremony for a new flagpole at our Bainbridge terminal was held on Friday. The event saw nearly 50 people gather to celebrate the installation, which was the product of a project led by Brad Staniewicz of Boy Scout Troop 1496. Brad raised money to replace the 65-year-old flagpole, which stands as a memorial for the late Walter Keys, who helped to modernize Bainbridge Island. The flagpole was installed on Aug. 8, just east of the terminal building.
Brad Staniewicz with his father, Todd, next to a bust of Walter Keys and plaque in his honor at the base of the flagpole.
Interferry Conference showcases future of ferry industry
Assistant Secretary Patty Rubstello attended the 47th Annual Interferry Conference in Tasmania, Australia last week. She said that it was enlightening to interact with many of the leading experts in the ferry field. Panelists, including Gov. Jay Inslee, spoke on a variety of topics. Patty shared that the big themes at the conference included the rapid progression in technology toward decarbonization, the importance of cleaning off biofouling from vessels and challenges in hiring across the industry worldwide.
A salute to our veterans
To recognize the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, all our operating ferries underway at 11:11 a.m. Nov. 11 sounded their whistles to commemorate Veterans Day. This was our eighth consecutive year commemorating this important day in this way, and we take great pride in this tradition as it is our unique way to express thanks and support for veterans, including the many in our workforce.
Mukilteo terminal takes national award
Our Mukilteo Multimodal Terminal Project recently won a 2023 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award. Presented by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the honor goes to projects that showcase “a significant contribution to civil engineering progress and society.” The terminal was one of 11 projects recognized this year, along with Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. Congratulations to everyone involved at Mukilteo!
Portion of Mukilteo terminal vehicle holding lane on SR 525 closed until Tuesday, Nov. 21
The vehicle holding lane just outside our Mukilteo terminal is closed until approximately 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21. The around-the-clock closure is part of a project to widen the sidewalk along the northbound lanes of State Route 525/Mukilteo Speedway on the bridge over the railroad tracks. Law enforcement is directing traffic near the work zone between First and Third streets during peak travel times from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Work on the project is scheduled to wrap up in December.
SR 104 lane closures approaching Kingston terminal
Plan for possible weekday travel delays over the next two weeks if heading to our Kingston terminal in a vehicle. Two of the four State Route 104 lanes that lead to the dock will be closed during the daytime hours on Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 20-22, and again Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 27-28. The closure for a Kitsap County Public Works stormwater project will extend for one block from Northeast Kingston Road/Iowa Avenue Northeast through Ohio Avenue Northeast. Both open lanes will be designated for ferry traffic. Local traffic will be diverted onto other roads.
“RAVE to the crew on the 2:05 p.m. ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island. I was on my way off, had cleared the gangway and was outside when I heard my name on the loudspeaker. In my haste to gather up my hat and package, I left my purse. I made my way back to the ferry and they met me with big smiles, asked for my middle initial and handed it over. And thanks to whoever found it! All items were still in place.”
-Seattle/Bainbridge customer in The Seattle Times
Next Weekly Update will be Thursday, Nov. 30
There will be no Weekly Update on Thursday, Nov. 23. I wish everyone a very happy and safe Thanksgiving Day!
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
Thanks for encouraging us to use WSF’s mobile app and website resources. Now it would be nice if the Vessel Watch and Terminal Status information was kept up to date and fully functional, which it often is not.