Planning study news
WSF is working to provide more reliable service for the 2.3 million Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth “Triangle route” customers who depend on the route each year.
WSF returned to three-boat service on the Triangle route during summer 2025. The project team worked with the community and operations staff to develop a backup two-boat schedule for use during vessel or crew shortages.
WSF is working to replace the aging Fauntleroy ferry terminal. Our next step is developing a Triangle route schedule to use during construction at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. We will continue to update this site with planning news and opportunities for engagement as the process continues.
Purpose
The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth Schedule Update project has two phases. WSF has now completed phase one, and is moving into phase two:
- Phase 1: Gather focused community input on adjustments to the existing two-boat schedule; communicate changes to riders ahead of Summer 2025 implementation; monitor performance of adjusted schedule.
- Phase 2: Plan for upcoming construction of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal and gather input on customer priorities to help WSF maintain essential ferry service.
To provide more reliable service for Triangle route customers, WSF updated the two-boat backup schedule ahead of summer 2025. WSF also identified options for an unscheduled third ferry during two-boat service, sometimes called a "bonus boat" or “ghost boat,” based on vessel and crew availability.
We hosted a Triangle route two-boat backup schedule update online open house from April 7-18, 2025. Visitors learned about the schedule update process, timeline, proposed sailing schedules and shared feedback. Review the engagement summary here.
Before the 2025 two-boat backup schedule update, WSF changed the Triangle route sailing schedule several times over the years. From 2016 to 2019, WSF hosted an extensive community engagement effort to change the three-boat schedule. WSF crews then operated on the revised three-boat schedule for nearly one year before the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting service. Crew and vessel shortages caused WSF to continue reduced, two-boat service on the Triangle route nearly continuously from spring 2020 to spring 2025. The previous two-boat schedule had not been updated in a decade and was designed for very occasional use during emergencies.