Month: February 2008

The M.V. Walla Walla returns on the Bremerton – Seattle run

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/351763_ferry19.html

The city will be revisiting SLU zoning soon, and they’ve got a few ideas, some based around transit oriented development (see the above).

Pretty good!

Thanks to HugeAssCity. What’s with profanity in Seattle Blog names?

A tipper sent this in: a land use application for an 11 story building with the streetcar barn in its basement. It’s currently a parking lot. The building would have 130,000 square feet of office to go along with the streetcar lot.

It’s nice to know that something is happening on that front, though I think that building won’t be built for a while, and the even then, they are waiting for the viaduct to be finished before we get that streetcar back.

I got an e-mail from an interesting user of the ferry system. While she wished not to be disclosed because of a pending article in another newspaper however she points out something that is interesting and which seemingly echoed a new article in today’s Kitsap Sun (Bottomed-Out Ferry System Looking to Bounce Back)

When I-695 passed, the Washington State Ferry system hit rock bottom with it’s funding. While the State did have a surplus of cash, improvements that were in the process of starting were put on hold or canceled, including the fast ferry service between Bremerton and Seattle along other fast ferry routes and four new ferries.

The lady that e-mailed me, commutes on the Bainbridge – Seattle 6 days a week, one of the days visiting friends and family on the main land. While it is expensive, she recalls times when the system was indeed much cheaper when I-695 was around. It is to be seen if things would be the same or changed if I-695 was never thought of but the fact that the system is highly degraded is enough to show the effects of the initiative and how the ferry and transit system remains to date.

While plenty of road and transit taxes have recovered from the effects of 695, the ferry system is system remains to drag along. The ferry system is the largest system used in the United States of America however it is the least funded and only select routes recover fare and make money (Seattle to Bainbridge Island)

My guest believes that in order for the ferry system to recover and function completely, a 5 to 7 cent tax for those ONLY in Kitsap County, Seattle, Vashon, the San Juan Islands, and the Olympic Pennisula should pay for the ferry services as those are the ones that use the system the most, State ran or not, food should be equal or greater on all boats where the run is greater than 25 minutes.

Should passenger only ferry service be on the States or even the Counties wish list? Certainly, as long as the distance covers the cost of the run. The best example was my in-depth study of the Snohomish on the Seattle to Port Townsend run which I still believe is an important route to have since it cuts down the drive 2 to 4 hour drive (depending on how backed up the Kingston to Edmonds is) to just 85 to 90 minutes on the Snohomish. I go into detail of just how much it would cost to make money and to break even.

http://watransportation.blogspot.com/2008/01/seattle-2-port-townsend-deeper-look.html

http://watransportation.blogspot.com/2008/01/number-crunching-port-townsend-seattle.html

In order to meet the expected demand for the next 10 to 15 years, we both agreed that we need to look at the following to meet up with demand.

San Juan Ferries – This run typically has 4 boats which are all approaching retirement age. These 4 boats need to be replaced soon. There should be at least 2 backup boats for this route but one would be work just as well.

Port Townsend – Keystone route needs 2 ferries running at all times and a minimum of 90 cars, especially during the Summer months where they could really get away using 150+ car ferries. The 30 minute crossing (including unload/load times) and one backup ferry.

Clinton – Mukilteo – While I have only been on the ferry 3 times, it is no surprise that the Issaquah 130 class boats currently on the run are not big enough to meet the growth now and in the future. The waiting area is good though and it’s short run makes it quick work of the cars waiting but a 150+ car boat would be best on this route. This run should have one backup which can be used on heavier known days. However in the interim…

These ferries operate are in serious need of some TLC, my ride on them yesterday was not impressive. New paint, a good wash to get the moss and other stuff growing on the windows is desperately needed. The lack of maintenance and torn seats were also a sign of what used to be a solid boat but now ran down and just pathetic. While the crossing is only 15 minutes, the entire run shouldn’t suffer, trust me, people notice.

Kingston – Edmonds – These are some of the newer boats and work good however WSF should consider running a 3rd ferry. While only a 25 minute crossing this route is commonly backed up 1 to 2 hours. Last summer on July 4th, there was a few times of the backups upwards of 3 hours. Super Jumbo Mark II class boats should be built for this run.

Bainbridge – Seattle – I love this route. The people, the scenery, the tourists, the Seagulls that flies with the boat when the weather is nice. Everything makes this route just excellent which is also one of the reasons why it is WSF’s highest patronized boat but again, the wait times are what kills this route and potential increased ridership. Taking a page out of BC Ferries, WSF should look at 300 car vehicles such as the new German built Super-C Class boats coming into service now. These boats have the capacity of 375 vehicles and 1,650 passengers and are simply stunning. These would be perfect for this route… but there one other problem.

Highway 305 which feeds the Bainbridge ferry through Bainbridge, is only a 2 lane highway. The entire highway needs to be a 4 lane highway between Bainbridge and Pouslbo to make things much more effective. While retaining the ferry only lane from Day Road to the terminal is vital. WSDOT needs to make this change as soon as it can to follow the growth of this run. It is the money maker and needs to be addressed. The three Super-C Class boats were only $370 million dollars.

Bremerton – Seattle – The poor Redheaded Stepchild of WSF which is the root of so many complaints and lack of service, shoddy ferries, lack of equal food service and getting the shaft when a boat needs a backup, needs to be re-thought, re-launched, and brought back to a reasonable service level with service to at least every 30 minutes. There is a lot that could be done but a shuffling of boats would be the right direction and using the Super Jumbo Class boats on this run would be the right step.

Fauntleroy – Vashon/Southworth – This route sometimes confuses me simply because I never been on it before. It is my understanding that some of the ferries continue from Vashon to Southworth. How they handle the vehicle loading is beyond me but at any rate from looking at route stats, it could use the Jumbo Class Mark I boats on the Fauntleroy to Vashon runs and a smaller 100 car ferry for the Fauntleroy to Southworth run. There needs to be a new waiting location at this terminal instead of the vehicles lining up all down the street and in front of peoples homes and the park there. There shouldn’t be a shared use of runs IMO.

Pt. Defiance/Tehlequah (Vashon) – The Evergreen is the only boat on this run and it suits it beautifully but will need to be replaced. This boat overtime should be upgraded to at least a 100 car ferry but anything bigger would be a waste since most of the users take the Vashon – Fauntleroy run to get to Seattle.

If I was Paula Hammond and had opion of the 5 cent tax increase to buy new boats and maintain service.. I would at least do the following:

2 Super Jumbo class boats (144-car) and 2 Issaquah 100 class (90-car) boats on the San Juan Route
2 Issaquah 100 class boats on the Port Townsend – Keystone route (90-car).
2 Jumbo Class (188-car) boats on the Clinton – Mukilteo route
3 Jumbo Class (188-car) boats on the Kingston – Edmonds route
3 Super-C Class (370-car) boats on the Bainbridge – Seattle route
3 Super Jumbo Mark II (202-car) boat on the Bremerton – Seattle route (boats moved from Bainbridge)
4 Jumbo Class (188-car) boats on the Vashon/Southworth – Fauntleroy route
1 Issaquah 130 (124-car) boat on the Pt. Defiance – Tehlequah route
2 Passenger Only Fast Ferries on the Seattle to Kingston/Port Townsend route.

Plenty of room for expansion and the boats can be used on any route.