WSF Weekly Report | 500,000 more riders than last summer; online meetings rescheduled; system-wide kudo

||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||

A message from Steve

Our busy summer sailing season wrapped up Saturday. We carried almost 500,000 more riders than last summer, thanks in part to offering the most service during this peak travel period in years. We added sailings on three routes from mid-June through early July. I’m especially proud to see our crew-related cancellations drop sharply while service increased – from 617 last summer to just 191 this summer. This progress is the result of the investments and focus we’ve put into developing our workforce. A special shout out to our employees for helping millions of passengers get to their destinations safely. I also thank our customers for your patience, as summer’s increased ridership can sometimes cause more delays and disruptions. This season shows just how much people rely on us.

Systemwide ridership for our summer season (June 15 to Sept. 20) totaled nearly 6.9 million, up from roughly 6.4 million in 2024 (June 16 to Sept. 21).

I’m pleased to share a few more summer numbers that show we’re moving in the right direction. We completed 98.4% of our 43,179 scheduled sailings. That’s an increase from 97.2% last year and we had nearly 4,000 more trips this summer. Canceled sailings dropped from 1,174 to 755. We also improved our on-time performance, or percentage of trip departing within 10 minutes of their scheduled departure time. Systemwide, we went from 71.6% in summer 2024 to 76.7% in 2025.

Our Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route did especially well in on-time performance after we restored the three-boat schedule there in late June. It rose from 73.6% last summer to 85.7% this year.

You can read more about our service over the summer in our recent blog post. While this data is encouraging, we know even one canceled or late sailing can be very frustrating for our customers. That’s why we remain committed to working hard every day to make your ferry experience even better.

Online community meetings rescheduled

Our online community meetings originally scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 2, have been rescheduled to Tuesday, Oct. 14. Prior registration is required via Zoom to attend the 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. meetings. Have a question for us? You can submit questions ahead of time by email us. Each meeting will start with a brief presentation covering this summer’s increased service, our new vessel build program and recent updates at WSF. Most of the time will be dedicated to answering questions. Both meetings will cover the same information. If you can’t make it, recordings will be posted on our community participation page on Wednesday, Oct. 15, the day after the meetings.

This limited-edition ORCA card, featuring ORCA mascot Boop, will be awarded to five meeting attendees.

Fare changes begin Wednesday, Oct. 1

Starting Wednesday, Oct. 1, there will be new passenger and vehicle ticket prices. The Washington State Transportation Commission recently approved these changes to meet revenue targets set by the state Legislature. Oct. 1 is also the first day with no peak season surcharge for vehicles. That charge won’t return until May 1, 2026. To see what you can expect to pay on any given day on each of our routes, use our online calendar to calculate your fare.

The last day of the peak season surcharge for our vehicle and driver fares is Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Increased motorcycle traffic on Whidbey Island routes Sunday, Sept. 28

One of the largest motorcycle gatherings in the Pacific Northwest is set for Sunday, Sept. 28, in Anacortes. The 42nd Oyster Run will bring more two-wheel travelers on our ferries serving Whidbey Island. Our Mukilteo/Clinton route will see high demand and motorcycles may need to board in the general vehicle line. At Port Townsend/Coupeville, reservations are the best way to avoid long waits. If you’re traveling on either route that day, plan for extra time.

Week Without Driving

Next week, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, our agency will take part in the national Week Without Driving challenge. This annual event invites everyone to try going a week without a car. Nearly a third of Americans – including people with disabilities, seniors, young people and those who cannot afford a car or gas – rely on walking, biking, public transit, rideshares or help from friends and family to get around. By joining the challenge, you can see what life is like without a car. It also shows how important safe, reliable and connected multimodal transportation is for everyone. Learning these challenges helps us improve our ferries and other transit services so everyone can travel safely and comfortably.

A salute to the AL West champs this evening

At 5 p.m. today, all our ferries underway will sound their horns in a whistle salute as we celebrate the Seattle Mariners’ epic win of the American League West title last night – their first in 24 years! Just like our ferries navigate the Salish Sea, let’s cheer our Mariners on as they chart their course into the playoffs. Congratulations to the team and to all fans.

Sailing stats for week of Sept. 15-21

For the week of Sept. 15-21, we completed 99.5% of our 3,122 scheduled sailings. This figure is separate from on-time performance. Of the 19 cancellations, 18 were for schedule resets (when a boat is so far behind schedule, we cancel a sailing to get it back on schedule, providing predictability for customers) and one was due to an emergency.

For comparison, during a similar week last year (Sept. 16-22, 2024), we completed 97.2% of our 2,825 scheduled sailings. Of the 83 cancellations that week, 57 were because of crewing, 13 for schedule resets, 12 due to tidal currents and one because of other miscellaneous reasons.

Customer kudos

“… I’d like to express my appreciation to the crews and staff who operate the Washington State Ferries. I’ve traveled … multiple ferry routes over the past few years (specifically, San Juan Islands, Seattle-Bainbridge and -Bremerton, Port Townsend-Coupeville), and without exception, I’ve been exceptionally impressed by the professionalism of the crew and the cleanliness of the vessels. The crews quickly and efficiently load and unload hundreds of cars and thousands of passengers on these voyages. It’s a monumental task that’s accomplished professionally each day. Further, crew members are always on hand offering assistance or cleaning the facilities. As a Washington citizen, I take pride in … our State’s ferry system and recognize its safe and efficient operation can only be done through the hard work and dedication of the crews and state administrators. …”

-Multiple route customer