Sharon Gavin, communications, 206-515-3913
WSF media hotline, 206-402-8070

Sailings on Bainbridge, Bremerton routes will change for a two-week period

SEATTLE – All trips between Colman Dock, Bainbridge Island and Bremerton will follow a temporary sailing schedule beginning Jan. 4, 2020, as construction to replace the state’s seismically vulnerable flagship ferry terminal moves forward.

During the temporary sailing schedule, which will be in effect until Jan. 20, all Bainbridge Island and Bremerton sailings will operate out of a single slip, and some crossings may take longer to prevent more than one ferry from arriving or departing the slip at the same time. Most departure times will shift between five and 30 minutes, but sailings later in the evening may shift as much as one hour.

WSF is working with Kitsap Transit to maintain as many bus connections as possible that work with the temporary sailing schedule for ferry customers.

Operating from one slip provides more space for WSF’s contractor to efficiently complete critical work on the north side of the dock. This work includes removing the remainder of the old terminal, removing the old wooden piles and driving in new steel piles that will support the deck for the new passenger terminal.

“We know that schedule changes have an effect on our customers’ daily lives and we do not make these decisions lightly,” said WSF Terminal Engineering Director David Sowers. “As with any construction project, sometimes work takes a little longer. Operating from one slip for this period provides more space for the contractor to efficiently finish critical work on the north side of the dock.”

Tips to prepare for Jan. 4, 2020, schedule changes for Bainbridge Island and Bremerton routes:

• Check the schedule: Departure times will be different, beginning with the first sailing on Jan. 4, 2020. Check the temporary sailing schedule in advance.
• Plan ahead: There are changes throughout the temporary schedule, and these changes may result in heavier traffic at ferry terminals.
• Know before you go: Check Vessel Watch, subscribe to route alerts, and download the WSDOT app to get real-time status of your ferry’s location on the route.
• Add extra travel time: Crossing times could be longer for certain sailings as both routes share the single slip.
• Consider alternative work schedules: Customers may want to look into teleworking during this period or, if transit connections are an issue, looking at different Ride Share opportunities.

Colman Dock is Washington state’s largest ferry terminal and supports transportation across Puget Sound between downtown Seattle and communities in Kitsap County and the Olympic Peninsula. In 2018, more than 10 million people used the terminal, which is aging and vulnerable to earthquake damage. Construction to replace the terminal began in August 2017 and will continue until 2023.

Washington State Ferries, a division of the Washington State Department of Transportation, is the largest ferry system in the U.S. and safely and efficiently carries nearly 25 million people a year through some of the most majestic scenery in the world. For breaking news and the latest information, follow WSF on Twitter and Facebook.