||| FROM PATTY RUBSTELLO for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES |||
Service restoration update
Our latest Service Restoration Plan (PDF 794KB) Progress Report (PDF 608KB) shows our Edmonds/Kingston route hitting 99% reliability over the past two weeks. Unfortunately, because of service disruptions from a bent propeller on Puyallup, the week prior to that two-week period is below 95%. That’s the threshold a run must reach for three straight weeks to be considered fully restored. We’ll likely be able to make that call very soon if all continues to go well on the route.
Puyallup returned to service on our Edmonds/Kingston route on Feb. 5, following repairs to a bent propeller. The run was on one-boat service Jan. 14-25.
We had a net gain of 61 crewmembers in 2022. We hired 202 new fleet employees last year, while 141 left the agency due to retirement or other reasons.
Showing some love to riders at our Fauntleroy terminal
Ticket Seller Marlo Pikul Holloway decorated our Fauntleroy terminal with some love for Valentine’s Day. We’ve received many comments of appreciation from our customers. Thanks, Marlo for creating a festive environment for our riders and fellow employees!
Ferry riders passing through our Fauntleroy terminal were greeted by Valentine’s Day decorations by our in-house window artist “Miss Marlo!”
How we fuel the ferries
Fueling our fleet is a behind-the-scenes operation that ferry riders may never think about. Rachel Morrison, senior crew resource manager, handles this essential function and says the unseen nature of her job only fuels her desire to get it right. She juggles multiple factors to schedule fuel deliveries either by barge or truck and often in the middle of the night to ferries docked from Point Defiance in Tacoma all the way north to Anacortes. Watch Rachel explain the process.
SR 305 Agate Pass Bridge delays near Bainbridge terminal
We’re four days into this year’s State Route 305 Agate Pass Bridge cleaning work. Plan for travel delays as the bridge will be reduced to one alternating lane of traffic from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, Feb. 17, and 7:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 18-19. The bridge will be reduced to one alternating lane of traffic again on Monday, Feb. 27, through Thursday, March 2, for inspection work from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
Provide input on the future for area around Bainbridge terminal
The city of Bainbridge Island is planning for the future of its Winslow area and is seeking public input. An online survey is open through March 8. There is a virtual public meeting tonight. A link to participate is on the Winslow Subarea Plan Update project webpage.
I would love to know what is going on with WSF Internet Tech Department that they can’t get the Spring Reservations or Schedule up and running. The Spring Schedule is to run from March 26 to June 16. It’s now getting toward the end of February! NO ONE can plan doctor appointments, weddings, visits, other type of appointments, events etc. due to this delay. Once again it is going to hurt us economically due to the inability for those visiting the islands to plan accordingly. It is maddening to say the least. I was told if I had a doctor’s appointment to just get them to write an Emergency Priority Pass but as I pointed out to the nice representative, this is only for surgical procedures, not standard doctor appointments. I sure would like to make a reservation to get home on March 27. Our niece and family would love to make reservations to come over for their planned June 14 visit. I will hope that the I T Dept. gets this sorted out as soon as possible.