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Post by old_wsf_fan on Jul 15, 2006 10:17:39 GMT -8
If there was ever a time to put an extra vessel on a route it is now. The website indicates a 3 hour wait for that ferry run.
The backups started at around 8:00 am and have only worsened. It would be very easy to put a third ferry on that run as they have done in the past. The third ferry would not have to adhere to the regular schedule, just act as a shuttle to help out.
I would think that the Evergreen State would be a good choice as a ferry of that capacity is easily loaded/unloaded and is available to use.
This will never materialize as their budget is set for the year and there is no funds available to add this service...
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Post by hergfest on Jul 15, 2006 10:38:20 GMT -8
With a three hour wait you might as well just drive around. There is a 90 minute wait at Seattle too.
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Post by SS Shasta on Jul 15, 2006 12:29:48 GMT -8
Excellent suggestion! It is wrong to keep MV Evergreen State idle at Eagle Harbor during these busy summer months. Although she (Evergreen) would not solve all of the problems, her use as a 3rd vessel would certainly help. She is just about the right size for fast unloading/loading. AND this would be excellent PR that WSF needs! I believe that the current WSF pattern of increasing fares and reducing service is the pits. Yes, there are problems created by high fuel costs, but the public needs to see improvements before supporting more funding for new vessels, dock improvements, etc. Some good PR is needed, even if it requires that more crews be hired and a few less chairs being warmed in administrative offices. PS: A similar problem developed yesterday morning about 10AM at Port Townsend. MV Klickitat departed for Keystone with a full load of vehicles still waiting on the dock. MV Quinault was idle in the tie-up slip and would not come on line until 2 hours later. What were those folks waiting in line thinking? The backups started at around 8:00 am and have only worsened. It would be very easy to put a third ferry on that run as they have done in the past. The third ferry would not have to adhere to the regular schedule, just act as a shuttle to help out. I would think that the Evergreen State would be a good choice as a ferry of that capacity is easily loaded/unloaded and is available to use.. |
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 15, 2006 13:50:43 GMT -8
Wait times are inaccurate and it should be done by sail waits which is how BCF does things. Otherwise, you have to calculate when the bulletin was posted, also how many sailings to wait. Better just to give the number of boats to wait versus time and constantly update it. What is really stupid is getting rid of funding for extra service. Hopefully, the new boats will make another ship for Bainbridge during the summer rush. Hopefully, those extra lanes on 305 will help traffic through Poulsbo.
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Post by hergfest on Jul 15, 2006 23:43:21 GMT -8
This is going from memory here, but I think even in WSF's long range plan there are no plans to put a third boat on the Bainbridge route. They will put more on the Bremerton and Kingston routes, but due to Eagle Harbor they will keep two. By putting four boats on Edmonds/Kingston it will take pressure off of the Bainbridge route. And putting the Evergreen State in service might sound good but it will never happen.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 16, 2006 9:06:20 GMT -8
Something will have to give, Tim Eyeman was so stupid to put I 695 on the ballot and why did people vote to send tax dollars away from mass transit? Was I 695 a pork barelling issue? Where are the tax dollars going to now?
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Post by SS Shasta on Jul 16, 2006 9:52:16 GMT -8
This is going from memory here, but I think even in WSF's long range plan there are no plans to put a third boat on the Bainbridge route. They will put more on the Bremerton and Kingston routes, but due to Eagle Harbor they will keep two. By putting four boats on Edmonds/Kingston it will take pressure off of the Bainbridge route. And putting the Evergreen State in service might sound good but it will never happen. Exactly. Putting MV Evergreen State in service just makes good sense so it will never happen. WSF administration still has the attitude that if conditions remain bad, it will force the Legislature and public to provide more funding. It might work sometimes, but sometimes it doesn't! BTW: During the early and mid 1960's WSF operated 3 vessels on the Seattle-Winslow run during the busy summer months. They operated MV Tillicum, MV Illahee, and SS San Mateo or MV Chetzemoka on the run from about late April until the end of September. |
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Post by northwesterner on Jul 16, 2006 12:59:20 GMT -8
Exactly. Putting MV Evergreen State in service just makes good sense so it will never happen. WSF administration still has the attitude that if conditions remain bad, it will force the Legislature and public to provide more funding. It might work sometimes, but sometimes it doesn't! BTW: During the early and mid 1960's WSF operated 3 vessels on the Seattle-Winslow run during the busy summer months. They operated MV Tillicum, MV Illahee, and SS San Mateo or MV Chetzemoka on the run from about late April until the end of September. I seem to remember a weekend in the very early 90s / late 80s where the Olympic provided third boat service on Seattle-Winslow. While only one vessel can transit the entrance to Eagle Harbor at a time, that doesn't mean that three vessels can't be used. Note that there is an extra slip at both Winslow and Seattle. |
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 16, 2006 13:08:43 GMT -8
There is also a tie up slip at Winslow, as is their at Kingston, however, Edmonds could be a problem due to the one slip but perhaps that can be worked around. It would be best for the Evergreen State to do double duty, moreso on Edmonds to Kingston due to heavy traffic periods during Sunday evening from people returning from the Penninsula. Shuttling may not be a bad idea but would it waste fuel by not taking anymore on a return trip?
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