Date:  Friday, June 11, 2010

Contact: Susan Harris-Huether, Senior Programs Manager, 206-515-3460

SEATTLE – The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division (WSF) will begin operating its summer 2010 sailing schedule on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 20, with additional vessels, sailings and service hours on the more popular tourism routes. The increased service levels will help locals and tourists alike take summer trips to the San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, Vashon Island, and the Olympic Peninsula. The summer schedule runs through Sept. 25.

The new red 2010 summer schedules are available at all ferry terminals and on the vessels. Summer service changes include:

Anacortes/San Juan Islands: an additional vessel and increased hours of service. Customers should note a change from the printed schedule: the 5:50 a.m. sailing from Friday Harbor will stop at Lopez Island at approximately 6:25 a.m. and load Anacortes-bound traffic. This Lopez stop was added after the schedule went to print, in response to customer feedback.

Anacortes/Sidney, B.C.: two daily trips instead of one

Edmonds/Kingston: Commuters and other regular customers should note many five- to ten-minute adjustments to sailing times. These changes were made to improve schedule reliability, meet transit connections, and adhere to U.S. Coast Guard crew endurance requirements. Wallet-size schedule cards for the Edmonds/Kingston route are available on the vessels and at the terminals.

Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth: extra weekend service on both Saturday and Sunday

Customers should begin planning ahead for the busy Fourth of July weekend. The heaviest traffic is expected westbound Thursday, July 1 and Friday, July 2, and eastbound Monday, July 5. Reservations are available now for the holiday weekend on the Port Townsend/Keystone and Anacortes/Sidney routes. Travelers should allow extra time for long waits at all terminals during the holiday weekend, especially in the San Juan Islands. WSF encourages customers to walk on instead of taking their vehicles. Details on extra service for the holiday weekend will be forthcoming. WSF will not provide free parking at the Anacortes terminal this year.

For more summer schedule details and other ferry system information, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries. To sign up for free e-mail alerts about service disruptions and other route information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/email_alerts.

# # #

WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

< Go Back