By SUSAN RIEMER
Reporter
The ferry system launched its new loading procedures last week, hoping to improve the process at Fauntleroy, and while ferry officials say there were no surprises, many people coming to the island experienced long waits and partially filled boats.
The changes — including a ferry staff member serving as a splitter to help direct traffic and the requirement that most everyone stop at a ticket booth — were intended to bring modest improvements to the triangle route. Many on Vashon, however, are questioning whether the plan works, while others have raised safety concerns when the line snakes far up Fauntleroy Way.
Last week, Washington State Ferries (WSF) spokesman Brian Mannion said WSF will analyze data after 30 days in order to have a sample large enough to be meaningful. Until then, he said, several people are watching the process and assessing how it is going. Last week he noted that people — both drivers and staff members — were still learning. Observers saw decisions being made faster, but many people were still trying to drive through the toll booths. He added that long lines are to be expected, given the uptick in seasonal traffic.
“Summer is here,” he said. “This is our seasonal increase in traffic at a terminal that is already over capacity.”
He noted that this region as a whole sees an influx of travelers in the summer, and roads, bridges and ferries are all affected by the higher amount of traffic.
“There are long waits on nice summer afternoons at a bunch of places across the system. It is busy out there everywhere,” he said.
He addressed some complaints that there are many people on the dock, seemingly doing nothing. That is not the case, he said; some are observers, and others are training people or being trained. He noted that last year, one of the problems was that WSF did not train staff adequately, a mistake WSF leaders are aiming to avoid this year.
“Everyone down there has a job,” he said.
Overall, he said, ferry officials are pleased with how the deployment of the new process is going, cognizant of a learning curve and that demand is exceeding capacity.
Greg Beardsley, who heads Vashon’s ferry advisory committee and is a member of the Triangle Route Improvement Task Force, had a different perspective. He observed last Thursday’s evening commute and did not like what he saw.
“When boats are leaving half empty and the line is past California (Avenue), that is a fiasco,” he said. “It was bad.”
He intends to watch this Thursday’s evening commute as well, he said, and will carry his observations to the next task force meeting, set for July 12. He has already shared his assessment with Ferries, he said.
“They have got to come up with a better plan,” he said. “I think some of what they are doing can stay, but they have to get people to buy tickets ahead of time and get them through so people who have to buy tickets can. That is the way it used to work. … They have got to get pre-ticketed cars on the dock faster so they can fill the dock up.”
On social media, many ferry travelers also expressed high frustration, particularly last Friday, with the long line — and ferries leaving off schedule but still with plenty of room on them. At 3:30 p.m. last Friday, WSF sent out a notice indicating ferry travelers at Fauntleroy should expect a 2-hour wait. Shortly after 5 p.m., another ferry rider noted the potential hazards when the line goes beyond the gas station — where he was waiting. Parked cars force the line into the street, he said, meaning that vehicles in the ferry line get mixed in with traffic and buses.
Mannion, reached late Friday afternoon, noted some of the challenges the 3 p.m. ferry had faced that day. It had arrived late, he said, and was held in until it was more than 20 minutes late, waiting for Vashon cars and with “a ton” of Southworth vehicles stacked up in line. He said that by the time the ferry left, dock workers had been able to bring down two lines of Southworth traffic, but little Vashon traffic was in it. Adding to the mix was a car that was parked illegally at the south end of the park. It was ticketed and ready for a tow, but it divided the officer’s attention, as he had to get the cars around the blockage. He added that the earlier cut off time to park in front of Lincoln Park should help with some of the impacts of parked cars.
Many Saturday travelers also faced long waits and boats that left with considerable space available.
Beardsley is encouraging people to take photos of what they find problematic and send them with a letter to the ferry system. This move is essential, he said, not just so the ferry officials know people are unhappy, but for further action if needed.
“If you do not complain, you cannot go to the next level because you have not followed the process,” he said. “If we are going to have to take it the next level — the Legislature or the governor — if half the island is complaining, that is a pretty powerful voice.”
Email comments, questions and concerns to wsfinfo@wsdot.wa.gov.
