Date:  Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Contact: Hadley Rodero, Project Communications, 206-462-6354 (Seattle)
Joy Goldenberg, Communications Manager, 206-515-3411 (Seattle)

SEATTLE – Options for improving, replacing and possibly relocating the aging Mukilteo ferry terminal will be discussed at three public meetings next week.

The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division (WSF) is studying options to address challenges at the Mukilteo ferry terminal, which is deteriorating and faces traffic congestion and pedestrian access issues. The existing Mukilteo terminal needs major repairs to operate the terminal safely and efficiently.

The Mukilteo/Clinton route is WSF’s second busiest route for vehicle traffic and has the third largest annual ridership, serving over four million total riders in 2009. Future passenger usage is expected to increase by 73% by 2030.

A new multimodal terminal would improve safety and efficiency and make it easier for ferry passengers to access trains and buses. WSF is considering possible locations for the new terminal, which include the existing Mukilteo terminal site and other locations in Mukilteo, Edmonds and Everett.

These public meetings on Oct. 12, 13 and 14, called scoping meetings, are an opportunity to help “scope out” the issues that WSF should consider during the environmental review process. Meeting attendees will be able to:

• Learn about the goals and need for the project
• Review the options that WSF is considering
• Identify potential issues and concerns for WSF to study in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
• Provide comments that WSF staff will review and incorporate in the formal record

The Mukilteo terminal project was put on hold in 2007 due to funding and constructability issues. After finalizing its Long Range Plan in 2009, WSF restarted the environmental review of the project and is evaluating a new range of concepts.

People are invited to attend one of the following meetings:

Whidbey Island
Tuesday, Oct. 12
5 – 7 p.m.
South Whidbey High School
5675 S Maxwelton Road, Langley

Mukilteo
Wednesday, Oct. 13
5 – 7 p.m.
Mukilteo City Hall
11930 Cyrus Way, Mukilteo

Online Meeting
To provide people with convenient options, WSF is also hosting an online open house. During the online meeting, participants will be able to log-on at any point, review meeting materials and listen to a presentation, ask questions about the project in real time and provide comments electronically that WSF staff will review and incorporate into the formal record.
Thursday, Oct. 14
5 – 7 p.m.
Register at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/ferries/mukilteoterminal/multimodal. Once participants register, they will be sent a link to access the meeting and instructions for how to participate.

More information about the Mukilteo Multimodal Project and the public meetings is available online at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/ferries/mukilteoterminal/multimodal.  

For more ferry system information, please visit the WSDOT Ferries Division website at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries. To sign up for free e-mail alerts about service disruptions and other route information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/email_alerts.  

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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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