WSF Weekly Report | Relief boats on standby for World Cup; $150 fine for line-cutting; schedule updates; music on board for 75th anniversary

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

A message from Steve

As our region prepares to welcome visitors from around the world for a summer of soccer, we are taking important steps to safely and reliably handle the increased demand. We plan to have two relief boats ready, with crews on standby during the event. These ferries can quickly step in if there is a service disruption, especially on our busy Central Sound routes. We will also have extra vessel crews available to respond to last-minute needs. This helps us avoid taking a boat out of service when Coast Guard minimum crew requirements cannot be met. In addition, we will have more employees and traffic control officers at our terminals, as well as customer service staff to help riders navigate our system. Security will also be increased on our vessels and at our terminals. We are coordinating with the Washington State Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard and local law enforcement. We are also working with third-party security teams to help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for both residents and visitors.

Like all major events in downtown Seattle, we encourage Bainbridge and Bremerton ferry riders travelling without a vehicle to buy their return ticket in advance to avoid long lines at the ticket booths. Starting today, June 11, youth tickets are valid for six hours instead of two. This gives passengers ages 18 and younger more flexibility and allows them to skip the rush at the ticket booths after a major event if they buy their return ticket in advance or use a Youth ORCA card.

For ferry riders on bicycles who are going to one of the six soccer matches, free and secure bike parking will be available just outside the stadium.

We are also focused on making travel easier and more accessible. Working with regional partners, we will provide better wayfinding, maps, signage and on-the-ground ambassadors to help customers move through terminals and reach the stadium and other destinations. We will also provide accessibility support, including interpreter services and ADA-compliant facilities, so all customers can get the help they need. Behind the scenes, our emergency operations center will be partially activated during the event. This will improve coordination and support for employees and customers. These efforts reflect our commitment to safe, reliable and customer-focused ferry service while helping showcase the Pacific Northwest to visitors from around the world.

Wayfinding tools are intended to help visitors at our Seattle terminal.

Line-cutting flyers remind drivers of rules, $150 fine

As we head into our peak travel season, we are hearing more complaints about vehicles cutting in line. This happens year round, but increases significantly in the summer. Line cutting is frustrating for others and can create unsafe situations. To help address this, we will start handing out updated flyers that explain the rules. These flyers remind customers line cutting may result in a $150 fine. This year, we also expect more visitors because of the World Cup matches in Seattle and fan zones around the region. Some of these travelers may be new to our ferry system, so we are asking for your patience and help. For everyone’s safety, we want to be clear: our employees cannot give tickets or settle line-cutting disputes. Only law enforcement can issue citations, and they must see the violation happen. We ask our customers not to confront other drivers. If there is an immediate safety concern, please contact law enforcement right away. With more law enforcement expected for our summer of soccer, there may be more chances to identify and cite line cutting.

Our employees will hand out these flyers to people they observe cutting in line, as well as to those who are reported by other customers as having cut in line.

Summer sailing schedule starts Sunday, June 14

Our summer sailing schedule begins Sunday, June 14. Changes are coming to three routes. At Anacortes/San Juan Islands, we will switch from our fall-through-spring timetables to our three-month peak-season schedule. We’ve made a few minor changes from last summer to help improve on-time performance. At Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, the #3 boat will increase operations to 15 hours a day on Saturdays and Sundays. Last summer, the vessel ran only half days on weekends because of limited crew availability. At Port Townsend/Coupeville, the second boat will start operating daily through Oct. 12, which marks the end of the route’s shoulder season.

Vehicle reservations are available for the Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes through Sept. 19, the last day of our summer sailing schedule.

Public Wi-Fi launches aboard Chimacum as part of pilot

Public Wi-Fi is now available aboard the Chimacum, which normally serves our Seattle/Bremerton route. New signs on board explain how to connect. The service works best inside the passenger cabin, where the signal is strongest. If customers have problems or feedback, they can use the Wi-Fi portal seen from their phone or computer and select “Provide Wi-Fi Feedback.” This launch is part of a pilot project that will also add public Wi-Fi at our Bremerton terminal this summer. The pilot follows a 2025 legislative request to study whether public Wi-Fi is practical, affordable and sustainable. We selected Chimacum and Bremerton because they serve one of our longest routes and provide a strong test of customer demand and service performance. After the end of the year, we will review service reliability, usage, customer feedback, costs, vendor performance, signal strength and overall Wi-Fi quality. The results will be shared with the Legislature and will help guide future decisions about expanding public Wi-Fi service.

75th anniversary celebration gets musical

Our monthlong 75th anniversary celebration kept going Friday with the first of four onboard dance parties with KNHC-FM C89.5 Public Radio. We also hosted the Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra on Sunday for an onboard concert. It’s an honor to have our Washington state community help mark this milestone, either through social media posts, flying flags, sharing our colors or hosting events with us. Our next onboard dance party is tomorrow, June 12, on our “Triangle” route. Music will be on these sailings: 3:30 p.m. from Fauntleroy, 3:55 p.m. from Vashon, 4:15 p.m. from Southworth and 4:40 p.m. from Vashon. Our staff will be on board handing out anniversary keepsakes, including keychains and temporary tattoos.

DJ Mia Maya mixes music Friday while passengers dance on the sun deck of Tacoma during a Seattle/Bainbridge route sailing.

The Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra performs in the passenger cabin of Tacoma Sunday on our Seattle/Bainbridge route.

Leading the charge: Wenatchee gets hybrid-electric logos

Wenatchee is putting its cleaner, greener future on full display. Our Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility staff recently added new “Hybrid Electric” and lightning bolt logos to the ferry. Its riders and others nearby can now easily spot the new markings on the smokestack and above the passenger loading area. As the largest hybrid-electric ferry in North America, Wenatchee is leading the way toward our lower-emission future. These new logos are a visible reminder of that progress.

A new look for a greener future. The new “Hybrid Electric” and lightning bolt logos on Wenatchee’s smokestack.

WSU students help develop “brain” for hybrid-electric ferry charging system 

KING 5 News joined us aboard Wenatchee on Tuesday. They highlighted our partnership with Washington State University to build a charging system for our hybrid-electric ferries. The news crew interviewed recent graduate Patrick Ledoux, Electrification Program Administrator David Sowers and Scholarly Assistant Professor Emily Larsen. Students built a charge management system that acts like a “brain” between ferries and shore power equipment. It helps control charging safely and efficiently. Their work goes beyond a concept and includes a working model that could one day be part of our broader electrification plans. The partnership has been a strong success. Our engineers shared their experience and knowledge, while the students brought new ideas and creative solutions. We look forward to more partnerships like these as we work toward a more sustainable future.

From left, WSU mechanical engineering students Michael Paul Buntain, Patrick Ledoux, John Geiser and TJ Stroschein aboard Wenatchee earlier this year.

New Saturday shuttle connects our Bainbridge terminal to downtown Winslow

There’s a new way for our Bainbridge terminal customers to get around downtown Winslow this summer. Starting Saturday, June 13, Kitsap Transit and the city of Bainbridge Island are launching the Downtown Loop, or Route 385. The free shuttle connects our terminal to many of Winslow’s shops, restaurants and attractions. It will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Saturday through Sept. 12, except July 4. To celebrate the launch, a community kick-off event will be held at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday, June 13, at the Bainbridge Island Transit Center, next to our ferry terminal. The first riders will have a chance to receive fun giveaways while supplies last. We’re excited to see this new service make it easier for our customers to enjoy Bainbridge Island while supporting local businesses and reducing vehicle trips.

The Downtown Loop, or Route 385, stops at bus stops along Winslow Way and Madison Avenue. Along High School Road and Ferncliff Avenue, riders can wave to the driver from a safe spot, and the bus will stop when it is safe. The shuttle can carry up to two bicycles and is fully accessible for passengers using mobility devices. Map courtesy of Kitsap Transit.

SR 160 near Southworth terminal to close for 4 months starting Saturday, June 13

A reminder for ferry riders who use State Route 160/Southeast Sedgwick Road to access our our Southworth terminal: At 11 p.m. Saturday, June 13, the highway will close to all traffic between Blackberry Hill Lane Southeast and Long Lake Road Southeast through October. There will be a signed detour for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. During the around-the-clock closure, crews will build a new bridge over Salmonberry Creek.

Detour routes during the four-month full closure. Motor vehicles will use Jackson Avenue Southeast, Southeast Salmonberry Road and Long Lake Road Southeast. Pedestrians and bicyclists will use Phillips Road Southeast, Southeast Salmonberry Road, Long Lake Road Southeast and Lakeview Drive Southeast.

Whidbey Life Magazine spotlights Capt. Curt Larson

We are proud to see our crew recognized in the communities they call home. Congratulations to Whidbey Island resident Capt. Curt Larson, who is celebrating an incredible 50 years with WSF this year. As our longest-serving active captain he is our fleet commodore. Curt currently captains the Tokitae on our Mukilteo/Clinton route. Learn more about his remarkable maritime career in the latest summer issue of Whidbey Life Magazine. If you’re on Whidbey Island this summer, look for a copy on local newsstands.

Capt. Curt Larson is on the cover of this summer’s Whidbey Life Magazine.

Sailing stats for week of June 1-7

For the week of June 1-7, our systemwide on-time performance (sailings that left within 10 minutes of their scheduled departure) was 86.8%. By comparison, it was 78.3% during a similar week last year (June 2-8, 2025). To view our on-time performance by month going back to 2017, visit our on-time performance reports page.

Customer kudos

“In speaking with Meredith (Kohn, info agent) to make a round-trip reservation after the frustration of attempting to do so online, she immediately set the tone of our conversation with an ‘up’ tone and tenor. That alone made my day! But that wasn’t all, as she was efficient, yet professionally friendly and informative. My thanks to WSF for having employed her, as she’s a ‘keeper!’”

-Anacortes/San Juan Islands route customer