Project overview
The Southworth Terminal Preservation project will replace the aging terminal to maintain safe and reliable service for those who travel between the Kitsap Peninsula, Vashon Island, West Seattle, and beyond. This terminal is an essential piece of Washington State Ferries’ (WSF) Triangle route and Kitsap Transit’s Fast Ferry service. The terminal is aging and vulnerable to earthquake damage.
What to expect
WSF is planning to replace the aging timber dock and the passenger building at the Southworth terminal. This terminal served more than 825,000 WSF riders in 2025 and serves as a hub for Kitsap Transit’s Fast Ferry, providing passenger-only ferry service to downtown Seattle.
WSF will update the Southworth terminal in two phases to minimize the overall impact on operations:
- Phase one: Replace terminal building
Build new terminal building to meet current seismic, safety, and operational needs.
- Phase two: Replace dock
Replace the dock (trestle only) to meet current seismic, safety, and operational needs.
WSF is starting phase one – we’re doing a pre-design study to determine the best location for a new terminal building. We’ve developed four options, or alternatives. Each one is being evaluated based on a variety of factors, including how it would affect passengers, terminal operations and the environment.
We hosted an online open house to share information about the pre-design alternatives. Community members were invited to learn and share their input. We will share an engagement summary to this website soon.
As the project moves forward, check this website for project updates and opportunities to engage.
The Southworth terminal was built over 60 years ago and the terminal building and dock need to be replaced to maintain safe and reliable ferry service on the Triangle route. This project will improve operations on the Triangle route by preserving and upgrading the Southworth terminal. Upgrades to the terminal are consistent with WSF’s 2040 Long Range Plan. Since March 2022, the terminal has also served Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry customers and needs updates to support both WSF and Kitsap Transit services. These updates will make it easier and safer for everyone to use the Southworth terminal.