Port Townsend-Coupeville (Keystone)

[avgeekjoe]

This route's in trouble too... from the Port-Townsend Leader:

WSDOT officials have been reviewing potential expenditure adjustments for months, and preliminary talks in the department's Ferries Division have focused on making more than $63 million in cuts.



Those changes center on reductions in service, and alternatives under consideration include dropping down to one-boat service on the Port Townsend run and other routes; eliminating late night/early morning sailings; discontinuing service to Sidney, British Columbia; and reducing administrative costs.



A second-tier alternative, and one that has Jefferson County officials especially alarmed, is the suggestion to eliminate the Port Townsend-Coupeville route entirely, with a second boat being added to the Bainbridge-Seattle or Kingston-Edmonds runs.



Removing the second ferry from the Port Townsend-Coupeville route and eliminating the crew needed for the vessels is expected to save the state $2.7 million.



Shutting down the route completely is estimated to cut costs by $13.9 million.

More at the link, but FYI.  Good to see some ferry communities other than Anacortes taking this seriously.

[Neil]

Oct 8, 2020 14:00:07 GMT -8 avgeekjoe said:

This route's in trouble too... from the Port-Townsend Leader:

WSDOT officials have been reviewing potential expenditure adjustments for months, and preliminary talks in the department's Ferries Division have focused on making more than $63 million in cuts.



Those changes center on reductions in service, and alternatives under consideration include dropping down to one-boat service on the Port Townsend run and other routes; eliminating late night/early morning sailings; discontinuing service to Sidney, British Columbia; and reducing administrative costs.



A second-tier alternative, and one that has Jefferson County officials especially alarmed, is the suggestion to eliminate the Port Townsend-Coupeville route entirely, with a second boat being added to the Bainbridge-Seattle or Kingston-Edmonds runs.



Removing the second ferry from the Port Townsend-Coupeville route and eliminating the crew needed for the vessels is expected to save the state $2.7 million.



Shutting down the route completely is estimated to cut costs by $13.9 million.

More at the link, but FYI.  Good to see some ferry communities other than Anacortes taking this seriously.

Maybe I haven't been paying proper attention, but from what I'm reading, fare increases don't seem to be among the options up for consideration. If that's the case, I don't understand why. In the past, WSF was far cheaper than BCFC... one example being when I compared the Port Townsend route to the Fulford route- very similar crossing times. WSF has caught up somewhat in recent years, but they are still cheaper, and I wonder why this avenue of cost reduction isn't being explored. Perhaps the market has been surveyed and it's apparent fare increases would just lead to a reduction in traffic, with no net saving.

[avgeekjoe]

Nel, sorry for the late response. Fare increases aren't going over well. I was at the last fares hearing the State Transportation Commission had - a lotta upset senior citizens.

[avgeekjoe]

FYI for this route - the Ebey's NHR Trust Board & Reserve Manager kindly sent a letter to the Governor's Office about the importance of this route.  I shared the letter with State Senator Lovelett as well.

Let's hope we're all ready, aye, ready to defend WSF in the legislature!

[avgeekjoe]

I should add a quick note for the record that this route was saved during the legislative session.

[Blue Bus Fan]

May 24, 2021 13:28:36 GMT -8 avgeekjoe said:

I should add a quick note for the record that this route was saved during the legislative session.

That good to hear. I glad that this route wasn’t canceled. Hopefully the legislative doesn’t cut any route.

[compdude787]

Wow, I'm amazed that they were even considering cutting this route.

[Blue Bus Fan]

Jun 10, 2021 19:40:46 GMT -8 compdude787 said:

Wow, I'm amazed that they were even considering cutting this route.

Can you please explain what you mean?

[compdude787]

Jun 10, 2021 19:58:00 GMT -8 Blue Bus Fan said:

Jun 10, 2021 19:40:46 GMT -8 compdude787 said:

Wow, I'm amazed that they were even considering cutting this route.

Can you please explain what you mean?

According to previous posts above, WSDOT was considering discontinuing this route.

[Mv Suquamish]

Why is coupville so shallow they could dredge it

[Barnacle]

Dec 18, 2022 13:32:33 GMT -8 Mv Suquamish said:

Why is coupville so shallow they could dredge it

I believe they hit bedrock fairly quickly.  Plus it's a man-made harbor, so it tends to silt in.