||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||
Ridership increasing as spring arrives
Last week we had 300,000 riders from Monday through Sunday. While it was our busiest week since last summer and triple the number from the same time last year, it was just two-thirds of 2019’s ridership. This recent spike in ridership is leading to long waits for people driving a vehicle onto some of our ferries during peak times as we continue to operate modified schedules on most routes because of the pandemic.
People coming aboard a ferry in a vehicle are encouraged to remain in their vehicle throughout the sailing. If outside a vehicle, face masks are required in all areas of our vessels and terminals.
As a reminder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends delaying travel and we continue to ask the public to limit rides on our ferries to essential purposes only. Based on crew and vessel availability, we plan to increase service starting Sunday, May 9, on our Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes.
New terminal employees join our workforce
To provide increased service in the weeks ahead and throughout the summer months, we’re currently training new crewmembers and terminal employees. This year’s first group of terminal new hires recently completed vigorous training. On Sunday, the 10 of them started working at various terminals throughout our system. Welcome aboard!
Ten new terminal employees posed for a photo at our Bainbridge terminal following the completion of several days of training.
**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.**
