WSDOT

For Saturday, October 1, due to a crew shortage, the M/V Yakima will go out of service following the arrival of the 6:30 a.m. sailing from Lopez to Anacortes.  The M/V Samish will also be out of service for the day due to a shortage of crew. 

The information we currently have are the following sailings are cancelled and customers should expect additional cancellations to be announced:

• 6:20 a.m. Anacortes to Lopez
• 7:10 a.m. Lopez to Friday Harbor
• 8:05 a.m. Friday Harbor to Anacortes

The Tillikum will sail to Anacortes instead of it's 6:55 a.m. Lopez sailing to Shaw. It will then sail from Anacortes>Shaw>Orcas>Friday Harbor.

The #1 Chelan will stop at Lopez on it's 8:30 a.m. Anacortes sailing to Friday Harbor.

Additional information will be sent once an alternate schedule has been created. Please be advised, reservations have been suspended for the entire service day, all vehicles will be loaded on a first come, first serve basis. No show fees have been waived and the ability to make a new reservation has been blocked. It is highly recommended to avoid travelling if it is not necessary to/from the San Juan Islands on October 1 if possible.

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. WSF will attempt to add service when possible, and will provide notifications when full service can temporarily be restored to a route.

For Saturday, October 1, the following routes are operating on alternate schedules:

• Port Townsend/Coupeville Alternate Service: Reservations Available
• Seattle/Bremerton Alternate Service
• Edmonds/Kingston Alternate Schedule
• 2-Boat Fauntleroy/Vashon, 2-Boat Fauntleroy / Southworth, 2-boat Southworth/Vashon

The following routes are running restored fall schedules:

• Anacortes/San Juan Islands: Reservations have been blocked due to service disruption on route.
• Mukilteo/Clinton
• Seattle/Bainbridge Island
• 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. 

In addition to free youth fares starting tomorrow, October 1, Washington State Transportation Commission’s rate changes go into effect. The last day of the summer peak season surcharge for single vehicle fares is Friday, September 30. On Saturday, October 1, single vehicle fares will return to their non-peak rates. Passenger fares and multi-ride products are not affected by the peak season changes.

In addition, general fare increases and policy changes will take effect on Saturday, October 1. Changes include:

• 2.5 percent increase for all fares

For more information, please visit the Washington State Transportation Commission’s Ferry Fares page. To view the current fares, and those going into effect on October 1, please visit the WSF Fare Information Page. 

As construction continues at Colman Dock drive-on passengers, bicycles, and motorcycles will see changes in which holding lanes, slip, and exit their route uses when traveling through Seattle due to necessary paving work. Customers may expect some delays due to the change in operations at the terminal.

From October 3 – October 7 the following changes will be put in place at the terminal.

• The Marion Street exit will be closed, all vehicles will exit via the Yesler exit
• Customers traveling to Bainbridge will continue using Slip 1 in Seattle
  • Vehicle staging in lanes 1-16
  • Vehicles will exit via the Yesler exit exclusively
• Customers traveling to Bremerton will again use Slip 2 in Seattle
  • Vehicle staging in lanes 17-24
  • Vehicles will exit via the Yesler exit exclusively
• No changes to the turnstiles in the terminal building. Follow terminal announcements prior to boarding.

Please follow signs posted and the terminal staff direction to make sure you get to the right destination. This map provides details on this paving work.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to upgrade and maintain our terminals. 

Washington State Ferries is actively working to bring service to pre-pandemic levels. While that won’t happen overnight, staff have developed a plan that outlines how to get there. Customers are encouraged to take a look at WSF’s COVID-19 Service Restoration Plan to get a clearer picture of what challenges the agency continues to face and what it will take to resume pre-pandemic service. WSF will provide regular updates on progress as it continues to restore service.

Customers are encouraged to participate in the current Ferry Riders Opinion Group survey to share their thoughts on all things WSF. The survey is hosted by the Washington State Transportation Commission and helps WSF hear feedback and suggestions directly from customers and constituents.

Those looking to participate can either sign up to join the survey panel to ensure you’re included in this and all future surveys, or you can just take the current survey that is available online without signing up to receive future surveys. This current survey will be available through October 18.

Starting Saturday, Oct. 1, youth passengers 18 and under will ride WSF ferries for free.

This applies only to youth riding as a passenger in a vehicle and those walking on. It does not include teenagers behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Drivers under 19 years old will continue to pay the adult vehicle and driver fare.

Due to this change, youth tickets will no longer be available at self-serve kiosks or online. Youth walking onto a ferry will still need a ticket or a valid ORCA card to board at terminals where one is currently needed. Terminal employees at the ticket booth can issue the free-fare youth tickets, which will be valid for two hours.

Folks traveling in a vehicle with youth between 6-18 will need to stop at a tollbooth to be accounted for and processed by WSF staff.

Terminal construction in Bremerton will require passengers to load the vessel via the car deck.  Passengers will load and off-load via the car deck at the Bremerton  terminal only.  Elevators are available on the vessel for customer use to the upper cabins.  Updates will occur when more information is available.

Work to improve ADA access at the Tahlequah Terminal has started and will continue into mid-September. Customers and neighbors can expect:

• Temporary traffic impacts on SR 163 while crews work on the roadway shoulders.
• No impacts to ferry sailings or operations at the terminal.

For any concerns or questions please contact WSF Customer Service at (206) 464-6400 or online athttps://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/InfoDesk/CustomerFeedback/