Ferries - Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock Project
Project
Ferries - Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock Project
Project overview
Washington State Ferries is replacing the aging and seismically vulnerable Colman Dock in Seattle in order to maintain its critical role as a regional multimodal transportation hub.
Key project elements included these new elements: concrete and steel trestle, main terminal building, entry building (with retail space), elevated walkway between the terminal building and the passenger-only ferry and replacing the overhead passenger walkway on the northernmost slip (slip #3). It also adds a bicycle entry and holding area north of Marion Street plus stairs and elevators to connect the facility to Alaskan Way. It also mitigates for additional overwater coverage.
Crews are putting the finishing shine on the inside of the new terminal building at Colman Dock. Construction began in 2017, and one-third of building opened in 2019. The final portion of the terminal building will open this summer. We also removed an old bulkhead from the water north of Colman Dock, opening up 180 feet of shoreline along Alaskan Way.
Work continues on the entry building along Alaskan Way and the elevated pedestrian connector that links it to the terminal building. Both of these will open in 2023. Ferry operations will be maintained throughout construction, but customers can expect changes to how vehicles, passengers and bicycles load and unload.
The Marion Street vehicle and bicycle exit reopened in May. It was closed in October 2020 to build the new concrete trestle and for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to repave Alaskan Way and build new sidewalks. Reopening this improves loading and offloading times for both our Bremerton and Bainbridge vessels. See the Maps & Drawings tab below for a map of the exit route.
Artist rendering showing the final look of the new terminal. New elements include concrete and steel trestle, terminal building, entry building, elevated walkway to the passenger-only ferry, and new overhead passenger walkway on slip #3.
This aerial view from July 2022 shows construction progress on the terminal building, entry building, and the elevated pedestrian walkway linking the two. The terminal building is set to open this summer.
Washington State Ferries is replacing the aging and seismically vulnerable Colman Dock in Seattle to maintain its critical role as a regional multimodal transportation hub.
*While avoiding and minimizing new overwater coverage was a key goal of the project, the new facility will increase the overwater footprint by approximately 5,400 square feet. Mitigation for this increase in overwater coverage will be achieved by removing overwater coverage from a neighboring WSDOT-owned pier.
What to expect in the new, partially completed terminal building
The new passenger terminal building is partially open, providing passenger access to the Bremerton and Bainbridge Island ferries. The terminal building construction was phased in order to maintain full operation for both Bremerton and Bainbridge Island routes. Until the rest of the terminal is open in 2022, we are operating in just one third of the building and have fewer amenities than the full facility will have. Passengers should plan to arrive about 10 minutes before departure to avoid standing in line for long periods of time.
The partially open terminal building maintains:
Full ferry service to Bremerton and Bainbridge Island
Ticket sales
ADA accessible restrooms
Limited seating
Vending machines
Visual paging services
Pedestrian connections to Alaskan Way and the temporary pedestrian bridge at Columbia Street
Disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) program
We selected Hoffman-Pacific, a Joint Venture, as the General Contractor/Construction Manager in fall 2015 and they have committed to maximizing opportunities for DBE firms. WSDOT has established a DBE goal of 9% of the project’s Maximum Allowable Construction Cost (MACC).
Summer 2017-2023 (terminal will remain open throughout construction).
Milestone
2012-2015
Environmental process/preliminary design
2015-2017
Final design and permitting
Summer 2017-2023
Construction
Summer 2019
New passenger-only ferry terminal opens
September 2019
First one-third of new passenger building opens
Summer 2022
Open fully completed passenger building
Spring 2023
Open new entry building and elevated pedestrian connector
Late 2023
Open new Marion Street pedestrian bridge
$467 million in federal, state and local funding has been appropriated for this project.
King County provided funding for replacement of the passenger-only ferry facility.
With $467 million in secured funding, we will replace the seismically-vulnerable elements of the facility to preserve Colman Dock’s core functions. This budget also funds the new terminal, an entry building, pedestrian plaza and bicycle facility.
Routes to the passenger building for walk-on and ADA passengers along with the crosswalks on Alaskan Way.
When the Marion Street exit reopens, people driving or biking who are arriving from Bainbridge will exit at Marion. Bremerton will continue to use Yesler Way. You can turn left, right or go straight at both exits.
