WSF Report | It’s going to be one busy weekend for ferry travel

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

Busy Labor Day weekend ferry travel

We’re expecting nearly 400,000 people aboard our ferries today through Tuesday, Sept. 5. In addition to the usual long vehicle lines and wait times surrounding holiday weekends, all Labor Day ferry travelers should prepare for possible last-minute schedule changes. Sailings may be delayed or canceled with short notice due to our current lack of relief crewing (PDF 434KB) or an unexpected mechanical issue within the system’s aging fleet. I encourage all our customers to make the most of our online tools such as the WSDOT mobile app to help them plan their trips and stay up to date with any service changes. By signing up for our rider alerts you can get the latest updates via text or email and our real-time map allows you to track each ferry.

The busiest sailings will likely be westbound (or onto an island) today through Saturday, Sept. 2, then eastbound (or off island) Sunday, Sept. 3, through Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Before heading to a terminal or boarding, people driving on board can check terminal conditions. Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes also offer vehicle reservations.

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 Labor Day, Sept. 4, there will be a few holiday schedule changes. Holiday sailings are marked on the schedules for each route.

As we approach the end of our busy travel season, I’d like to thank our employees for their continued support to ensure our vital ferry service operates as much as possible this summer. I want to acknowledge the heroic efforts we’ve seen from vessel crewmembers who’ve made many sacrifices to make sure people can get to their doctor’s appointments, visit family and go to and from work.

Six-day vehicle closure of Seattle/Bainbridge route starts next week

Another reminder that our Seattle/Bainbridge route will be closed to vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles from 1 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, through 3 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13. During that time, the run will operate on a one-boat schedule for customers travelling without a vehicle. To help accommodate cross-Sound traffic during the vehicle closure, we’ll add a third ferry on our Edmonds/Kingston route when crewing and vessel availability allows. It will operate around that run’s current two-boat schedule. Any single or multi-ride ticket used for our Seattle/Bainbridge route is valid for use on our Edmonds/Kingston, Seattle/Bremerton and Fauntleroy/Southworth runs. Answers to some of the common questions about the vehicle closure can be found in our FAQ.

During the vehicle closure, construction crews will set four large bridge spans that will make up the new overhead walkway into place.

Increasing fleet diversity

As we build our vessel crewing workforce during a worldwide shortage of mariners, we know we can no longer rely on the traditional maritime employment pipeline. We are focused on increasing our recruitment of women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and those in the LGBTQ community. Over the last year, we have implemented new programs aimed at increasing diversity and strengthening career opportunities for current employees more inclusively. Capt. Genevieve Fritschen recently led an all-women wheelhouse team aboard Suquamish – an example of what’s possible when we’re open to everybody who wants to work hard and be part of our team.

Chief Mate Cari Brown, Quartermaster Mary Lint, newly hired deckhand Carly Maxstone and Capt. Genevieve Fritschen in the Suquamish pilothouse Friday.

Employees use AED to save life of customer at Edmonds terminal

Our employees helped save a life at Edmonds terminal Saturday. A man was about to walk aboard Spokane when he stopped and fell backward, hitting his head hard on the ground, knocking him unconscious. Terminal staff, vessel crewmembers and passengers with medical experience administered CPR and used an automated external defibrillator three times on the man, who eventually regained consciousness. When paramedics arrived, they told our employees if it were not for their quick actions, the man would not have made it. I would like to thank everyone for leaping into action to ensure the safety of our customers. Your service does not go unnoticed.

ADA improvements at Orcas Island terminal

We recently completed a project to improve Americans with Disabilities Act and pedestrian access at our Orcas Island terminal. The second and final phase of work included the construction of ADA parking stalls, curbs and sidewalks for safer pedestrian use. In partnership with San Juan County, ADA-accessible ramps and sidewalks to and from the terminal were installed in phase one of the project in 2016, along with a pedestrian pickup and drop-off area. Our old waiting room and ticketing structure were replaced with an improved facility on the upper floor of a county building accessible at street level. We’re thankful for the great support from San Juan County and excited that these improvements better suit the needs of all our riders.

“@wsferries – your attendants at #Southworth dock were amazing this morning! Assisted me in getting my disabled senior to the dock building so she could use the restroom on a very crazy day at the dock. I can’t say thank you enough & my momma thanks your team!”

-Fauntleroy/Vashon/ Southworth customer on X, formerly known as Twitter