Inside Bainbridge

The summer Washington State Ferries (WSF) schedule, beginning on Father’s Day, June 16, will meet increased peak-season demand with added vessels, sailings, and service hours on many routes. With the stepped up service, WSF says it aims to help locals and tourists alike enjoy summer excursions to the San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, Vashon Island,…

Read the full story

The City of Seattle is closing Alaskan Way between Virginia and Pike Streets this week for seawall work. The closure will begin Friday, April 26, at 7 p.m. The street will reopen on Monday, April 29, at 5 a.m. The Washington State Ferry system suggests that ferry riders who normally arrive at Colman Dock via southbound…

Read the full story

Washington State Ferries (WSF) peak season rates kick in Wednesday, May 1, and continue through September 30. An additional 25 percent surcharge will be applied to full-fare vehicle/driver tickets. For a standard-size vehicle (14 feet to less than 22 feet long) the Seattle/Bainbridge one-way run cost will increase from $13.15 to $16.40. A 35 percent surcharge…

Read the full story

Our Washington State Ferry (WSF) system has something to brag about this Earth Day. It has earned the highest rating—5 stars—from the statewide EnviroStars Program at 10 of its 20 ferry terminal facilities, including the Bainbridge Island terminal. The nationally recognized EnviroStars Program was established in King County in 1995 by the Local Hazardous Waste Management…

Read the full story

As our Washington State Ferry (WSF) system moves ahead with its plan to convert its fuel source from diesel to liquefied natural gas (LNG), the science is still settling on this relatively unregulated alternative energy source. Of the 22 ferries in its fleet, WSF is preparing to start by retrofitting its six Issaquah Class Ferries at…

Read the full story

Our Washington State Ferry (WSF) system, the largest in the world, burns more than 17 million gallons of diesel (petroleum) each year. WSF reports that fuel is its fastest growing operating expense, amounting to over 30 percent of its 2013 operating budget, compared to 12 percent in 2001. In response to the rising costs, both…

Read the full story

Washington State Ferries (WSF) announced today that human error is responsible for the costly engine failure of the 188-car Jumbo-class Walla Walla ferry, which has been out of service since last fall. A three-month safety investigation determined that the break down occurred during a maintenance procedure on an electric drive motor, one of four propulsion motors on…

Read the full story

Our Washington State Ferries (WSF) is moving ahead with the design phase of its extensive renovation plan for Seattle’s Colman Dock, which, yes, still feels pretty new since its last renovation was completed in 2008. The new Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock is primarily intended to address “seismic vulnerability and pedestrian/vehicle conflicts” at the…

Read the full story

On Wednesday night, January 16, two ferry runs between Bainbridge Island and Seattle will be canceled. The 8:55 p.m. Bainbridge Island departure and the 10:05 p.m. Seattle departure will not run because the Tacoma ferry will be taken out of service for required maintenance. The Wenatchee will sail as scheduled for the remainder of the…

Read the full story

11:56 a.m. Commuters had to embark Bainbridge-to-Seattle ferries this morning through the car deck. According to Washington State Ferries Public Relations Coordinator Marta Coursey, a combination of high tides and high winds early today made it too dangerous to connect the elevated walkway at docking on Bainbridge, so walk-on passengers were directed to use the…

Read the full story

7:54 p.m. Have you noticed the new permanent electronic “Your Speed” signs along Madison Avenue between High School Road and Highway 305? Installed this week, they are part of a Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements program along that section of Madison. “Unfortunately it took a bike accident to make Bainbridge Island eligible for a safety improvement…

Read the full story

9:25 a.m. Washington State Ferries (WSF) has just announced the removal of two more boats from its fleet for “routine maintenance.” Counting the three ferries already out of service for longer-term repairs, this adds up to five of the twenty-three boats in the system now out of commission. Making matters worse, the two latest boats…

Read the full story

1:01 p.m. A survey conducted with drivers across the state has found that Washington drivers like to talk—while they’re driving. The survey, which was created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Governors Highway Safety Association, targets drivers’ attitudes and self-reported behaviors in the categories of driving while impaired, speeding, and wearing…

Read the full story

7:52 p.m. Our own Washington State Ferry (WSF) system, the largest such organization in the nation, serving 23 million annual riders, is facing some big changes. Their regulatory agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, has raised its staffing requirements for four out of six of WSF’s ferry classes—the Jumbo, Super, Issaquah, and Evergreen, which account for…

Read the full story

2:18 p.m. The 1,200-passenger/90-car Sealth ferry has been temporarily removed from service due to a leaking seam in the hull on the No. 2 end on the port side of the vessel. The leak was discovered by staff during a routine inspection. “We are making arrangements with Dakota Creek Shipyard in Anacortes to perform an…

Read the full story

The Washington State Transportation Commission is issuing new toll rates for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Gig Harbor, taking effect July 1, 2012. The Good To Go! fare will increase from $2.75 to $4. The Cash fare will jump from $4 to $5. And Pay By Mail will jump from $5.50 to $6. The Commission’s…

Read the full story

In a sedate (agonizingly?) and, excepting a few testy moments, agreeable meeting Wednesday night, the City Council processed city business without taking much action. In part this was due to the excused absences of three of the seven members, David Ward, Kirsten Hytopoulos, and Bob Scales, which resulted in some delayed votes. One interesting discussion…

Read the full story

When it comes to ferry fare increases, how time flies. Yet how slowly the minutes pass when you’re waiting for the next ferry after missing the one you had hoped to catch. This Tuesday, May 1, basic ferry fares jump yet again (by 3%) following the general fare increase (of 2.5%) that went into effect…

Read the full story