Date:
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Contact:
Susan Harris-Huether, Senior Customer Service and Information Manager, 206-515-3460
SEATTLE - WSDOT Ferries Division has made some adjustments to the fleet's maintenance schedule to better serve customers throughout the system and to complete needed vessel maintenance before the busy summer season. No downsizings have been added to the schedule, but customers on the Seattle/Bremerton route will experience a smaller vessel and less vehicle capacity sooner than previously scheduled.
The week of March 23 the Seattle/Bremerton route will return to its normal capacity with the return of the 144-car Kaleetan, which will operate with the 124-car Kitsap. Both vessels have Wi-Fi service. Customers have enjoyed extra vehicle capacity on the route since mid-February while the 188-car Walla Walla operated with the Kitsap.
The Walla Walla is being moved to the Edmonds/Kingston route, taking the place of the 202-car Puyallup. The Puyallup will move to the Seattle/Bainbridge route while the 202-car Wenatchee is out for several weeks of maintenance.
The week of March 30, the 90-car Sealth will replace the Kitsap on the Seattle/Bremerton route while the Kitsap undergoes several days of planned maintenance at the ferry system's Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility. The Sealth will operate with the Kaleetan, reducing total capacity on the route by 34 vehicles for the first week of April.
Once the Kitsap returns to the Bremerton route the week of April 6, the route will be at normal capacity through the rest of the spring schedule. The adjusted schedule allows the Ferries Division to complete work on the Kitsap earlier than originally planned and to ensure the Seattle/Bremerton route is back to normal capacity as soon as possible.
Since vessel and service changes often cause ferry customers to alter their commuting habits, the normal policy of no refunds for frequent user multi-ride tickets is waived. Customers requesting a refund should call Susan Harris-Huether at (206) 515-3460 or e-mail her at Sharris@wsdot.wa.gov.
WSDOT appreciates customers' patience with ongoing service adjustments as the Ferries Division completes necessary vessel inspections and dry-docking for ferry maintenance. Customers are encouraged to check the Web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries, or call 1-888-808-7977 for the latest information.
# # #
No Ordinary Journey
Created on June 1, 1951, Washington State Ferries (WSF) is the largest ferry system in the United States and the largest ferry system in the world based on vehicles carried. More than 24 million people a year ride the ferries and over 30,000 vehicles a day use this critical link in the state highway system. WSF has a fleet of 28 vessels and operates 20 terminals throughout Puget Sound.
< Back to News Home