What coordination is occurring with related agencies, projects and planning efforts?
WSF is working with other agencies-including the City of Bainbridge Island, WSDOT Highways and Kitsap Transit -to ensure long-term strategies and solutions for the terminal are compatible with plans for the area. As an outgrowth of this coordinated planning, WSDOT plans to make interim safety improvements by adding signalized crossing areas at the intersection of Harborview and Olympic Drives and creating new bike lanes around the holding area.
WSF and the City of Bainbridge Island are also working collaboratively to plan the ferry terminal facility and surrounding neighborhood. This integrated effort will ensure consistency with the City's Comprehensive Plan, the regional transportation system, the SR 305 Corridor Study and other ongoing planning in the community and region.
Project Facts
August 2007
June 20th Community Advisory Group meeting
summary now available.
Why is WSDOT
improving the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal?
The Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal, built in the 1950s, is among WSF’s busiest facilities. It served 2.1 million vehicles, 6.4 million passengers and over 76,000 commercial vehicles in 2004, and ridership is projected to grow to 11.5 million by 2030. Repairs to the facility have been minimal with most major work done some 20 years ago. Key structural components of the terminal need to be replaced, including the dock, parts of which are rotting, and the overhead loading, which is in poor repair. Safety and circulation improvements are needed for pedestrians, transit, autos, bicyclists and persons with limited mobility.
WSF prepared a Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal Master Plan in the mid-1990s to complement Kitsap Transit and the City of Bainbridge Island's transportation planning efforts. The master plan recommended improvements for passenger pick-up/drop-off, ingress/egress for motorized, non-motorized and transit users, local access, and overhead loading. Due to the passage of Initiative 695, funding for capital improvement projects was reduced and the proposed Bainbridge terminal projects were put on hold. WSF needs to analyze potential facilities for the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal that address current deficiencies and meet projected ridership growth.
In 2005, the Legislature recognized the need for substantial improvements at the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal by appropriating funding for the proposed projects.
The End Result
As a first step, WSF reviewed the 1998 Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal Master Plan. This included re-examining original data, looking at past options and reasons for selection and developing new concepts based on current information and ridership projections for the 2030 timeframe. WSF completed trestle replacement in Summer 2006, a near-term project identified in the 1998 Master Plan.
The end product of this process is a master plan that will identify a series of projects phased and implemented over time. The preferred alternative identified will then serve as a vision for WSDOT/WSF, Kitsap Transit, the City of Bainbridge Island, customers and community to work toward.
Project Benefits
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Congestion Relief. Expanding the vehicle holding area will minimize ferry traffic queues on nearby streets. More vehicles will be able to enter the holding lanes and prepare for the next vessel loading.
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Access. Facilities will be designed to meet current ADA requirements to provide greater accessibility for passengers with limited mobility. New facilities will also improve access for autos, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit.
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Public participation. Feedback from community members plays an important role in shaping the future ferry terminal.
What is the project timeline?
We are in the process of revising the project schedule given recent legislative directives. The team is proceeding with the draft SEPA EIS/NEPA EA document.
Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Public participation opportunities, including public meetings and community briefings, will be offered throughout the duration of the project.
A 12-member Community Advisory Group (CAG) and public participation in community briefings and workshops provided critical information that helped shape the alternatives brought into the scoping period from November 20, 2006-January 19, 2007. In April 2006, early concepts were brought before the community for review and feedback at a public workshop. WSF returned to the community, joined by the City of Bainbridge Island, in September 2006 for a second workshop with revised concepts for public comment. The team then revised concepts again following the September workshop for a set of alternatives to bring into public scoping.
WSF is utilizing public comments received during the scoping period to refine the alternatives and assess public priorities and concerns in the environmental analysis. Public input will continue to shape the project, with the CAG’s ongoing involvement, as well as public comment opportunities at community briefings and public meetings throughout the environmental review process. WSF plans to host the next public meeting in Spring 2007.
The Community Advisory Group is advising the project team as they develop a preferred option for the ferry terminal. CAG members include:
- Ann Bernheisel
- Carol Cahill
- Bob Campbell
- Kevin Dwyer
- Phedra Elliot
- Rik Langendoen
- Lisa Macchio
- Dolores Palomo
- Merrill Robison
- Janice Shaw
- John Whitlow
- Don Willott
Please contact Joy Goldenberg, WSF Customer and Community Relations, at 206-515-3411 or bainbridgeprojects@wsdot.wa.gov for more information.
Environmental Protection
Environmental protection will be a key evaluation criterion for all of the improvements considered and implemented as part of the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal Improvment Project.
Transportation planning will be consistent with the City of Bainbridge Island, Kitsap Transit, and the City of Seattle's emphasis on linkages with transit and non-motorized transportation. This will be accomplished through provision of increased capacity and convenience for passengers making trips through the terminal via transit and non-motorized modes. Also, congestion relief at the terminal and connected roadways will reduce vehicle emissions.
In terms of site selection, WSF will minimize impacts to the marine and coastal environment by working closely with the resource agencies. WSF is committed to meeting silver level Leadership on Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for all new buildings, including the new Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal.
Please visit the
WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
This project will improve overall structural safety and reduce traffic conflicts in the terminal vicinity. Constructing ADA facility improvements will provide persons with limited mobility greater accessibility and security.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
At WSDOT we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations using the process outlined in Section 106 of The National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.
Financial Information
The 2007 Legislature approved $2.4 million for the project for the 2007-2009 biennium.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Joy Goldenberg
WSF Customer & Community Relations
2901 3rd Avenue, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206.515.3411
Email: bainbridgeprojects@wsdot.wa.gov
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