WSDOT

Washington State Ferries is operating on alternate schedules on most routes until further notice. These changes will help offer more predictable and reliable service systemwide in the face of crewing shortages due to a global shortage of mariners that has been worsened by the pandemic. WSF will attempt to add service when possible, and will provide notifications when full service can temporarily be restored to a route.

For Friday, January 21, the following routes are operating on alternate schedules:

• Mukilteo/Clinton Alternate Service 
• Edmonds/Kingston Alternate Service
• Seattle/Bainbridge Island Alternate Service
• Seattle/Bremerton Alternate Service
• 2-Boat Fauntleroy/Vashon, 2-Boat Fauntleroy/Southworth, 2-boat Southworth/Vashon

The following routes are running the regular winter schedules:

• Anacortes/San Juan Islands: Reservations remain suspended until further notice
• Port Townsend/Coupeville: Reservations available
• Point Defiance/Tahlequah

The schedule page online shows the currently active schedules in the top section, and the inactive schedules are below.  Please note that the active schedules may change daily depending on crew availability, so please be sure to monitor email alerts and check the Travel Alert Bulletins page for updates. 

There is a two hour wait for vehicle traffic departing the Edmonds terminal due to one-boat service on the route.

Updates will be provided as conditions change.

The San Juan Provisions Café has reopened inside the Anacortes Ferry Terminal. The café is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

New vehicle reservations have been suspended for travel in the San Juan Islands until further notice. Continued crewing shortages may force WSF to reduce service through the Winter Season. Not allowing new reservations will ensure WSF has the capacity and flexibility to move existing reservation holders should that happen.

This change does not affect existing reservation holders who will be prioritized on a first-come, first serve basis. Customers can still travel without a reservation but may encounter increased waits at terminals and should plan accordingly. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We will continue to provide additional information as it becomes available.  

Reminder:

Trucks with a ground clearance of less than 14" should not travel to/from the north end of Vashon and Point Defiance during the following dates/times:

• January 17, 2022 - 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. -1.4
• January 18, 2022 - 10:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. -1.4
• January 28, 2022 - 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. -1.6
• January 29, 2022 - 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. -2.4
• January 30, 2022 - 7:45 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. -2.8
• January 31, 2022 - 8:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. -2.9

At low tides these loading ramps create a steep slope where the hinge at the top causes an extreme angle for trucks or RVs with a low ground clearance. Waiting for a higher tide allows for this angle to lessen at the bridge seat (top). This allows for safer clearances for vehicles low to the ground and keeps them from scraping or hanging up at these locations.

The safety of our customers and crew is WSF’s top priority. Please remember that all traveling customers are required to wear face coverings inside the terminal, at the tollbooth and aboard the ferry. Please also consider limiting your travel to only the most essential trips while service continues to be constrained by the pandemic. For additional travel information regarding COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Travel Updates webpage.

The passenger elevator on the M/V Tacoma is temporarily out of service for maintenance and repairs. The Tacoma is currently running as the #1 vessel on the Seattle/Bainbridge route. Passengers may contact the crew to use the freight elevator. Updates on a repair status will be provided when more information becomes available. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Face masks are now required only in indoor areas of our terminals and vessels for all riders and employees in compliance with the latest CDC guidelines. All customers inside terminals or vessels should continue to wear face coverings. However, passengers can remove their masks while outdoors on the sun deck, car deck areas of the vessel, outside waiting areas at terminals and other outdoor locations. Please remember to mask up upon reentering interior areas of boats and terminals.

Beginning on Monday, Oct. 11, a contractor for the City of Edmonds has been using one of the terminal holding lanes on State Route 104/Edmonds Way from 6 a.m. Mondays through 4:30 p.m. Thursdays for several months. Both approach lanes will be open for ferry travelers Thursday evenings through Sunday and holidays. We appreciate your support while the City of Edmonds conducts important sewer work. We will keep you informed as this continues.