WSF Weekly Report | Paper receipts will now be bisphenol-free

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

A message from Steve

When you operate a system that millions of people depend on, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily challenges of delivering service. But to truly improve, we must also keep our sights on the bigger picture: building a sustainable future. That’s why in addition to our immediate focus our executive team must also take a long-term look at our goals and operations. Those include restoring service, building new vessels, crewing, and the maintenance and preservation of our current fleet.

Our executive team was in Mukilteo this week for a two-day meeting focused on long-term planning.

Today we concluded a two-day executive team meeting centered on these priorities and their connection to our 2040 Long Range Plan. The plan, shaped by feedback from our customers and ferry-served communities, serves as a guiding star for our long-term decisions. We’re also focused on aligning directives from the plan with our three strategic priorities – service excellence, improved communication and empowered people. Each director will leave with clear tasks tied to this plan, making sure our executive team stays focused on the steps needed to provide reliable service for years to come. We’re dedicated to enhancing the ferry system for current and future generations.

Leading the way toward safer, chemical-free receipts

You may notice a change in our receipt paper in the coming month. We’re switching to a safer option that’s better for the environment and public health. We will be the first state agency to stop using thermal receipts that contain bisphenol (PDF 492KB), ahead of a statewide ban in 2026. A Department of Ecology employee raised the issue after a ferry trip, sparking a state interagency effort to find safer paper. Once a chemical-free option was found, it was added to a statewide contract available to all state agencies. This is one of many ways we’re leading the way in environmental stewardship and public safety.

Thermal receipts are printed on special paper that resists heat and moisture. But chemicals used can have environmental and health effects, especially in children.

Sailing stats for week of Nov. 4-10

For the week of Nov. 4-10, we completed 98.78% of our 2,787 scheduled sailings. Of the 36 cancellations, 14 were because of weather, 11 due to vessel being out of service, four 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), four because of miscellaneous reasons and three due to crewing.

Customer kudos

“I was connected with Nikki (Holman, lost & found coordinator) in Lost and Found about a birthday present I thought I may have left on the ferry. She was empathetic, gave me her cell number in case the call got cut off (which we did). She explained how Lost items were handled on that ferry run. She just handled me very professionally. She evoked caring. Give that woman a raise.”