The Anacortes tollbooth replacement project was completed in 2024. As a crucial crossing to and from the San Juan Islands, a new tollbooth built for seismic resilience and operational efficiency allows WSF to continue serving communities that fully rely on ferry service. More projects are planned for the next 10 years in Anacortes as WSF continues to bolster this critical support for San Juan Island communities.
Construction at the Bainbridge Island Terminal on the passenger overhead loading fixed walkway was completed in spring 2024. The $33 million project replaced the previous wooden-supported walkway with a wider, more seismic-resistant steel structure to allow the Bainbridge terminal to continue operations in case of a seismic event. New mechanical and electrical components were installed to better serve the terminal and the communities that rely upon it.
Construction to replace the Seattle Slip 3 Vehicle Transfer Span began in summer 2024. The slip is expected to open to the public by the spring of 2025. This project will replace the old cable-operated vehicle transfer span with an updated hydraulically operated transfer span.
WSF focuses on resilience
One of WSF's continuing goals in 2025 is building resilience to uncertain and/or unforeseen events. Some areas of focus are identified below:
Loss of workforce capacity and skill levels has impacted WSF's ability to deliver projects and meet milestones. This has been rated very high in past WSF risk evaluations. WSF is enacting mitigation strategies such as nationwide recruitment, workforce development, a hybrid work environment, flexible schedules, and training. While it has improved since last year, the risk remains very high.
The seismic risk to WSF terminal systems is high. WSF continues to identify critical routes for seismic resiliency and includes seismic risk while prioritizing capital projects. WSF has completed multiple projects, and identified others, to better bolster against seismic risk.
WSF is developing emergency preparedness plans to supplement ongoing resilience efforts. WSF has published the Terminal Damage Assessment Manual which provides guidelines for inspecting terminals in an emergency.
In response to changing climate, WSF is conducting studies on how climate change, including rising sea-level, will impact existing terminal structures. In the future, prioritization of preservation projects will include the expected effects of climate change.
With increasing costs, the preservation program at WSF has been underfunded. With the current budget crisis in Washington state, the need for a more resilient system will become even more critical in the future.
FY2023
Major construction projects in progress
Construction at the Bainbridge Island Terminal on the passenger overhead loading fixed walkway is in progress. The $33 million project replaces the previous wooden-supported walkway with a modern steel structure that is earthquake-resistant and functionally more efficient. Mechanical and electrical systems will also be replaced to improve system reliability. The project is expected to be substantially complete and open to the public by June 2024.
The Anacortes tollbooth replacement project is currently in the construction phase and is expected to be substantially complete by June 2024. This project replaces the existing tollbooths, installs a canopy over the new tollbooths, and meets current design standards and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The tollbooths were originally built in 1984.
The Seattle Slip 3 Vehicle Transfer Span Replacement project was also awarded for construction in November 2023. Construction on site is expected to begin in summer 2024. This project will replace the old cable-operated vehicle transfer span with an updated hydraulically operated transfer span.
WSF focuses on resilience
WSF has started reevaluating risks and reexamining the risk response plan and expects to complete it in 2024. This is in alignment with the agency's goal of building resilience to uncertain and/or unforeseen events. Identified below are some areas of focus:
Loss of workforce capacity and skill levels has impacted WSF's ability to deliver projects and meet milestones. This has been rated very high in WSF risk evaluations. WSF is enacting mitigation strategies such as nationwide recruitment, workforce development, a hybrid work environment, flexible schedules, and training.
The seismic risk to WSF terminal systems is high. WSF continues to identify critical routes for seismic resiliency and includes seismic risk while prioritizing capital projects. WSF's 10-year budget includes several preservation projects that upgrade terminal structures to the latest seismic code. WSF also considers tsunami effects in all the new designs to build structures resilient to potential tsunamis after an earthquake.
In response to changing climate, WSF is conducting a study on how climate change and rising sea-level will impact existing terminal structures. All new preservation projects are considering such impacts to design a more resilient system that can perform as designed during its lifetime.
With increasing costs, the preservation program at WSF will be underfunded if an adequate increase in funding is not approved. This risk only underscores the need for a more resilient system capable of operating at the lowest possible cost.
FY2022
WSF opens its flagship terminal in Seattle in November 2022
WSF opened the Seattle Terminal building at Colman Dock on Nov. 18, 2022—a milestone for the Colman Dock project.
The new terminal building includes increased seating, more turnstiles to accommodate larger volumes of walk-on passengers, and several spaces for future retail. The terminal building is also lined with many windows and glass panels to provide a more welcoming and brighter atmosphere.
Construction work is still underway on the entry building along Alaskan Way and the elevated pedestrian walkway that links to the terminal building. Those key elements are expected to open in spring 2023.
Interior of the completed Seattle Terminal Building at Colman Dock.
WSF continues terminal work at Bainbridge and Anacortes
WSF began construction at the Bainbridge terminal on the passenger overhead loading fixed walkway in 2022. The modern steel structure that replaces the wooden supported walkway is earthquake resistant and functionally more efficient. Mechanical and electrical systems will also be replaced to improve system reliability.
The Anacortes tollbooth replacement project is currently in the construction phase and is scheduled to be completed in 2023. The project will replace the existing tollbooths (built in 1984), install a canopy over the new tollbooths, and meet current design standards and ADA requirements.
WSF continues to focus on resilience
WSF plans to reevaluate risks and reexamine the risk response plan in the coming year. This is in alignment with the agency's goal of building resilience to uncertain and/or unforeseen events. Identified below are some areas of focus:
Loss of workforce capacity and skill levels has been rated very high in WSF risk evaluations. WSF is enacting mitigation strategies such as nationwide recruitment, workforce development, flexible schedules, and training.
The seismic risk to WSF terminal systems is high. WSF continues to identify critical routes for seismic resiliency and includes seismic risk while prioritizing capital projects. WSF's 10-year budget includes several preservation projects that upgrade terminal structures to the latest seismic code. WSF also considers tsunami effects in new designs to ensure it is building structures that are more resilient to potential tsunamis after an earthquake.
In response to the changing climate worldwide, WSF is conducting a study on how climate change and sea-level rise will affect existing terminal structures. New preservation projects will also consider those impacts to design a more resilient system that can perform as designed during its lifetime.
FY2021
WSF works on terminal improvements in FY2021
A project at Fauntleroy terminal will address the deteriorating timber trestle constructed in the 1950s, sea-level rise, operational inefficiencies, and the seismic condition of the structure. The project is in the early stages of the environmental process. Community, technical, and executive advisory groups have each met at least once and provided input on this project.
Projects at the Anacortes terminal include replacing the aging terminal building, the tollbooths, and the timber trestles. At the Orcas Island and Tahlequah terminals, the projects include preserving the trestles in addition to rehabilitation of some of the vehicle movable bridge systems. Other major terminal projects WSF has programmed within the 10-year time frame include:
A preservation project in Kingston to address seismic deficiencies of the trestle and vehicle movable bridge.
A preservation project in Bremerton to replace aging vehicle movable bridge systems.
A preservation project in Southworth to replace the timber trestle and terminal building and improve operational efficiency.
A project at the Bainbridge Island terminal to replace an overhead loading walkway is scheduled for construction this year. The existing wooden-supported walkway will be replaced with a modern walkway designed to better withstand earthquakes.
A project at Colman Dock in Seattle to replace aging and seismically-vulnerable assets is under construction and scheduled for completion in 2023.
WSF terminals continue to face challenges due to COVID-19
WSF terminals continue experiencing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including:
WSF terminal project construction costs have increased significantly. The cost of all goods has increased due to lack of construction material availability. These cost increases without an increase in funding will result in less preservation projects moving into the construction phase.
COVID-19 has impacted work force capacity. The vaccine mandate resulted in a small number of resignations, but they have impacted the staff's ability to respond to problems quickly in some departments at WSF.
Delays in design delivery and construction, and change orders associated with mandatory state requirements.
FY2020
WSF updates existing risks and challenges for terminals
As part of a risk management process, WSF identified enterprise- and program-level risks, analyzed and qualitatively evaluated the impact of those risks, and developed a risk response plan. Recent updates to the results of this risk evaluation process include:
The seismic risk to WSF terminal systems is high. WSF is continuing to identify critical routes for seismic resiliency, and includes seismic risk in its prioritization of capital projects. WSF's 16-year budget includes several preservation projects that would also upgrade terminal structures to the latest seismic code.
WSF is continuing to develop a training plan for crews to learn to operate movable loading/unloading bridges as well as a refresher training plan to avoid operator errors. WSF needs additional training resources to fully execute this response plan.
WSF is in the process of developing and implementing collision prevention training plans for vessel crews, improving vessel operations to reduce propeller wash and continuing with federally-required scour inspections. WSF anticipates a need for additional training resources to fully execute the response plan.
WSF is beginning to incorporate climate change effects in the design of new capital projects. State revenue reductions have resulted in a delay in the agency's efforts to study the effects of climate change on terminal facilities. The goal is to quantify the cost of climate change and associated risk on all terminal assets and incorporate the results into design standards.
