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Post by SS Shasta on Jul 12, 2006 10:56:40 GMT -8
According to a recent announcement by WSF, the system will be reestablishing the 2 minute rule. All loading of vessels will stop two minutes before the scheduled departure time. This is to help prevent vessels from running late; it is apparently a major problem on the Seattle-Winslow run during the busy summer months.
Common sense would tell me that it takes longer to safely load and unload the larger vessels such as MV Tacoma vs smaller vessels such as MV Evergreen State, etc. As a walk on passenger, I have frequently noticed that these larger ferries are not fully loaded at the time the 2 minute warning is issued. There are often large numbers of vehicles waiting to be loaded so the issue is not a late arriving car arriving at the dock.
Is WSF allowing enough time in the schedule to safely unload/load these large ferries? How long does it take to unload/load vessels such as MV Tacoma? MV Hyak? MV Evergreen State?
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Post by SS San Mateo on Jul 12, 2006 11:29:04 GMT -8
At one time WSF was running an experiment on that route which involved slowing the boats down a knot or two during off-peak hours to save on fuel. I wonder if that is a factor (assuming they're still doing it).
One issue with that route is the entrance to the harbor on Bainbridge. Ferries can't pass each other in the harbor, so if whatever boat is at Bainbridge leaves very late, then that boat or the other has to hold to allow the other to go through.
Maybe it's time to revamp the schedule (like they did with the Vashon/Fauntleroy/Southworth route in 2003 due to on-time performance issues).
-- LB
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 12, 2006 13:51:16 GMT -8
They revamped it just last year I believe, I did check a PDF located on the WSF website on the issue and they arent going to budge the schedule from what it seems. www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries press releases and you will find Bainbridge On-time performance Note: PDF document |
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Post by old_wsf_fan on Jul 12, 2006 18:49:50 GMT -8
I think that part of the problem is due to the changes required for security concerns. Back in the day, you were allowed, as a walk-on passenger, to stay aboard a vessel and take a round trip. No longer is this allowed. You must disembark the vessel after each trip. Then WSF employees sweep the vessel to clear all passengers. This adds time before they can reload.
I have also noticed, via the webcams, that say a vessel is unloaded and there is 20 minutes before the next scheduled departure, they will close the gates and wait to load until as little as 5 minutes before sailing. In my opinion. this is part of the problem. In the "old-days", as soon as a vessel was unloaded, they would load immediately for the next sailing.
Maybe part of the solution is to review what has worked in the past and reinstate it. A logical solution is to fund this system properly so they can add extra vessels when they are required. That would certainly help on-time performance and help maintain a schedule.
The 2 minute rule is going to be impossible to adhere to especially during commuter hours. So far, I have not seen any of the runs meeting this goal.
I don't know much about the ferry systems' policies but changes are in order.....
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 13, 2006 17:07:36 GMT -8
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Post by Electric Thunderbird on Jul 13, 2006 18:30:29 GMT -8
Seems like they would not get the max revenue for that sailing to cover the fuel costs and such if they cut themselves off before completely filling the boat.
They need to factor in additional time into their schedules. Better to have the extra time than to screw the customers that get past the toll booth in time.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 13, 2006 19:25:52 GMT -8
They have cut off loading even when there were people in the holding lanes waiting for 10 minutes. Why do they even go through the boats? Is this because of post 9/11?
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