Date:
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Contact:
Contact:
Susan Harris-Huether
, Senior Programs Manager, 206-515-3460 (Seattle)
SEATTLE – The fireworks are over; the beach blanket’s back in the closet. The end of summer means fewer ferry passengers and annual sailing schedule changes. Customers will also see new fares beginning Saturday, Oct. 1.
The fall sailing schedule starts Sunday, Sept. 25. That means fewer ferries or sailings on some routes to match the reduced demand in fall. For example, the Anacortes/Sidney, B.C., route will go from two trips a day to one, and four vessels will serve the San Juan Islands instead of the summer’s five. The fall sailing schedule is available on the Washington State Ferries (WSF) website, and customers can pick up copies at ferry terminals and on vessels.
New ferry fares will go into effect Saturday, Oct. 1. Last month the Washington State Transportation Commission adopted changes to WSF fares. The changes to be implemented Oct. 1 include:
- general fare increase of 2.5 percent
- new fare category for vehicles less than 14 feet long
- elimination of bicycle permits
- per-ticket surcharge of 25 cents to help fund new vessel construction
Visit the Transportation Commission website for more information about fare changes. As an example, the standard (14-to-22-foot) vehicle/driver, non-peak-season fare between Seattle and Bainbridge Island will increase from $12.15 to $12.75 on Oct. 1. Also on Oct. 1 the annual peak-season surcharge (25 percent on full-fare vehicle/driver tickets) is removed.
Finally, on Oct. 11 the Port Townsend/Coupeville route will reduce daily service from two boats to one boat with the 64-car Salish. The route will return to two-boat service for the peak summer season next year.
Hyperlinks in the news release:
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