|
Southworth Fast Ferry Update
As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of daily life and caused tremendous pain and suffering for millions of people around the globe. I want to acknowledge and thank the essential workers in Kitsap County who are keeping us safe, healthy and supported during this pandemic. Our essential employees have had the honor of transporting many of those essential workers to their destinations in Kitsap County and Seattle.
I appreciate the excitement and anticipation in the South Kitsap community for a fast-ferry service to downtown Seattle that will slash travel times to under a half hour and save residents precious time they’d rather spend with their families and in their communities.
While our plan has not changed to launch Southworth Fast Ferry service in 2020, our confidence in our ability to execute the plan on time has diminished for a number of reasons:
- Boats: The pandemic has disrupted workforce and supply chains, creating new hurdles for the shipyard under contract to build our new bow-loaders. The shipyard has invoked a contract clause that frees them from meeting their delivery deadlines.
- West Seattle Bridge: The sudden closure of the West Seattle Bridge for at least two years has sparked discussions about expanding the number of ferry trips operated by King County Water Taxi into the downtown Seattle passenger-only ferry terminal. Kitsap Transit is working with our partners to determine the impact of the Bridge closure on our fast-ferry operations and assessing our alternatives to the already congested passenger-only ferry dock in Seattle.
- Ferry Schedule: The pandemic, along with the measures designed to slow its spread, has caused swift, severe drops in ridership on both Kitsap Transit and Washington State Ferries. In response, both agencies have temporarily reduced service. While service will be restored, how quickly remains unclear. The uncertainty of what the ferry schedules will look like means Kitsap Transit’s ability to finalize a Southworth-Seattle fast-ferry schedule remains uncertain as well.
While we face these challenges, we continue to make progress on other aspects of our plan.
In March we conducted a community-wide survey seeking your input on several aspects of the future fast-ferry service and bus service to and from Southworth ferry terminal. More than 1,200 people responded, and we’re pleased to share the results with you – CLICK HERE. The survey results are one key input in our decision-making, which is also shaped by dock availability, budget, and the operational needs of Washington State Ferries and King County Water Taxi.
We are encouraged to see that some survey respondents plan to ride a Kitsap Transit bus to the Southworth ferry terminal, while many more expect to drive there. The terminal requires improvements to the passenger queuing area and the dropoff/pickup lanes to accommodate future bus operations. We are working with Washington State Ferries on short-term upgrades as well as applying for a federal grant for an additional ferry slip that will improve service reliability and allow for schedules that better meet riders’ preferences.
I look forward to starting the Southworth Fast Ferry service when all the components necessary for a successful launch are in place. I hope it will happen in 2020, but I also want to be transparent about the daunting challenges that may push the service’s launch to 2021. When I have more information to share, I will let you know.
Thank you for your interest in the Southworth Fast Ferry and Kitsap Transit. If you venture outside your home to ride on public transportation, please remember:
- Wash your hands frequently (or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer).
- Wear a face covering at all times.
- Keep at least 6 feet of distance from others.
As we like to say at Kitsap Transit, make it a habit!
John Clauson
Executive Director
Kitsap Transit
|
