|
|
Post by Political Incorrectness on Dec 3, 2006 21:40:25 GMT -8
You can try a Starbucks in Mount Vernon  |
|
Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,196
|
Post by Neil on Dec 3, 2006 22:51:13 GMT -8
There's probably not a major transportation system anywhere in the world that doesn't look like a mess at peak or unusually heavy traffic times. No system can afford to staff for brief spikes in use. P-I's chagrin is shared by many, I'm sure, but such is life.
|
|
|
|
Post by zman on Dec 4, 2006 9:46:13 GMT -8
When it comes to sporting events, even when it is Mariners or Seahawks, there needs to be increased staffing. I walk on, and (until this summer), there was only one line for passes/tickets at Coleman Dock. The lines everywhere are huge, even for autos. I would be thrilled if WSF could actually say "Hey...looks like a big game, why don't we put more tollboth attendants on duty in case people drive to the game"...That doesn't happen. It is kinda funny that WSDOT will issue the 'heavy traffic due to sports event' warnings several days out, yet they fail to adequately staff the booths. I do know that there is not much that they can do in the passenger area because of the limited space, but the auto area can easily have more staffing if the employee scheduling takes into account the fact that people drive to and from games...there is NOTHING on the other side that people can do, so anybody who has some spare time and a ticket will come over...The Seahawks games are the worst for walk on, and stuff that happens at Key Arena or other venues are the worst for auto traffic. Those events are the ones where WSF needs to add staff to the tollbooths. That lineup on Alaskan Way can get terribly long, and the only place that the police show up is at the entrance to the terminal. I have also seen it once or twice when the entire lot is full of cars, and in that case, happy waiting, because the dock cannot grow bigger.  |
|
|
|
Post by Barnacle on Dec 4, 2006 15:19:27 GMT -8
Look at it this way, Z: if the lot's full, it doesn't matter too much because you aren't making it onto the next sailing anyway. |
|
|
|
Post by in washington on Dec 5, 2006 12:25:53 GMT -8
WSF does, in fact, provide extra staffing and "pre-sales" for all Seahawk games. Mariner game staffing is based on attendance numbers.
The Seahawk crowds use the service well but Mariner fans are less likely to make use of it. This service is strictly for walk-ons.
Key Arena (Sonics) is such a small venue (14,000?) that historically it does not impact WSF. WSF also does not provide extra staffing for the Huskies sporting events, again because of distance from Colman Dock and historical passenger numbers.
What caused the traffic back up on the night in question is not known by me but the advice to get to the terminal 30 minutes prior to sailing has always worked for me with the exception of commuter hours and weekends.
If there are unexpected issues in the communities that have ferry terminals WSF is not in a position to bring in extra staffing at a moments notice. WSF does on many occasions hold boats in to accommodate these occurences within reason.
There is a lot of truth as to the expectation of customers to be able to show up with only a few minutes to spare and make a sailing, this expectation is supported by their experience that it often works for them. It is risky at best though and something I would not try if catching that sailing was important to me.
|
|
