||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||
New line-cutting educational campaign
To address an ongoing problem of drivers cutting our ferry lines, we’ve teamed up with Washington State Patrol on a new line-cutting educational campaign and emphasis patrols. We explained these new efforts to the media at our Edmonds terminal yesterday, the same day the 37-year WSDOT HERO Program was retired. The program was used to help educate travelers on the proper use of high-occupancy vehicle and ferry lanes. As a reminder, our toll booth attendants do not manage traffic outside our terminals and are not trained or authorized to enforce traffic violations.
WSP Trooper Kevin Fortino holds up signage that is going up at our terminals and flyers that remind people about $139 fine for drivers caught cutting the ferry line.
Visit to Whidbey Island and Anacortes
I visited Island and Skagit counties last Thursday, Sept. 16, to discuss our service with elected officials. In the morning, State Rep. Dave Paul and I toured Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB), an important Puget Sound boat building and repair business in Freeland. We then went to Coupeville to sit down with Mayor Molly Hughes, conferring about the importance of the Port Townsend/Coupeville route to her community. I wrapped up the day in Anacortes meeting with State Sen. Liz Lovelett about our service on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes. I appreciate all three officials sharing their concerns and their strong support of Washington State Ferries!
With State Rep. Dave Paul, NBBB CEO Gavin Higgins, NBBB Executive Vice President of Sales Matt Nichols and NBBB VP of Sales and Customer Relations Tor Hovig.
With State Rep. Dave Paul (10th District) and Coupeville Mayor Molly Hughes.
With State Sen. Liz Lovelett (40th District) in Anacortes.
Twitter photo contest back with more chances to win
Get your camera ready or start looking through your albums for an amazing ferry pic! After a year off because of the pandemic, our popular Twitter photo contest is back with more chances to win and have your pic on the cover of our printed sailing schedules! All you have to do is follow @wsferries, then post your photo on Twitter between noon Monday, Sept. 27, and noon Friday, Oct. 1. Be sure to include the hashtag #FerryFotoContest. Read our blog for more information on rules and requirements.
Our popular #FerryFotoContest returns next week. We’ll tweet each of our six finalists on Monday, Oct. 11. Top three finalists with most likes on Friday, Oct. 15 win!
Start of fall schedule, fare changes next week
We now have three different printed sailing schedules: Central Sound, South Sound and reservations routes.
We’re just three days away from switching over to our fall sailing schedule! This year, sailing times will change only on our Anacortes/San Juan Islands route. Then in one week, on Friday, Oct. 1, you’ll notice changes to ferry fares. That’s the day the Washington State Transportation Commission’s rate changes go into effect, and it also marks the end of the peak season surcharge. Use our online calendar to calculate your fares for the days you’ll be traveling.
New Mukilteo terminal wins architectural award
Our new Mukilteo terminal was recently named an Honor Award recipient in the American Institute of Architects Washington Council’s (AIA WA Council) Civic Design Awards! These awards celebrate the best examples of what can be realized when architects and civic clients work together to achieve quality design. Congratulations!
Inspired by a Coast Salish longhouse, our Mukilteo terminal was designed with local tribes to be light on the earth.
45-year service award
We recently presented a rare 45-year service award to Capt. Curt Larsen, a staff master on our Mukilteo/Clinton route. Thank you, Curt, for your service and dedication over the years. Congratulations on this amazing milestone!
**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.**
Well, this is interesting. Happening across the system.
[Last Updated: Friday, September 24, 2021 09:17 PM]
Three Saturday Morning San Juan Sailings Cancelled Due to Crew Shortage
The Chelan will be out of service for at least its first roundtrip out of Anacortes Saturday morning due to a shortage of crew. This cancels the following sailings:
6:10 a.m. – Anacortes to Friday Harbor
7:50 a.m. – Friday Harbor to Lopez
8:30 a.m. – Lopez to Anacortes
Customers are highly encouraged to continue monitoring rider alerts due to the potential of additional sailing cancellations. Existing reservation holders for those sailings who still need to travel will be prioritized and loaded on a first-come, first-served basis on later sailings. New reservations for the route are closed for the entire day to try to keep enough space open to accommodate existing reservation holders. Customers who choose to postpone or not travel for Saturday will not incur a no-show fee. Please note that standby space will likely be extremely limited.
WSF is making every attempt to accommodate reservation holders on their reserved sailing and those affected by the cancelled sailing, but customers may encounter long waits.
Thank you for your continued patience while we work to navigate this challenging time.