Fauntleroy ferry future: Read the mayor’s letter against expansion

In our Wednesday night coverage of the Washington State Ferries Draft Long-Range Plan hearing in Fauntleroy, we showed you video of SDOT’s Ann Sutphin telling WSF that the city opposes the proposal to expand the West Seattle dock. She read a letter Mayor Nickels wrote to WSF; this morning, we have a copy of that letter — you can read it in its entirety here. Also a reminder — as mentioned in our Wednesday report — WSF has extended the deadline for public comments to Monday, so you still have time to read the plan and send your thoughts (wsfplanning@wsdot.gov).

NIMBY January 23, 2009 (11:07 am)

Here we go again. The ferry system is great…as long as the traffic doesn’t go by MY house. NIMBY. So we’re going to push this existing ferry traffic to downtown, adding MORE traffic to the existing single entrance to the downtown ferry terminal…at the same time we’re about ready to tear down 99 and screw up the waterfront for 4-8 years? Er…

I know I’m in the minority, but I LIKE the ferry here in West Seattle. I don’t want EVERY transit option ONLY going to one single point in already overcrowded downtown Seattle. It needs to be spread out a little.

nudibranch January 23, 2009 (11:31 am)

Remember that by building the tunnel, 99 will stay as-is until the tunnel opens (unless it falls). I also like the ferry in WS; it does help spread transportation options through the entire city. But I do think more efforts should be put into getting people onto passenger only ferry that goes downtown. I work on the waterfront and I can’t imagine adding Vashon car service to the existing ferry traffic.

MB January 23, 2009 (12:27 pm)

Wait nudibranch…did I miss something? I didn’t read anything proposing that Vashon car service move to Coleman dock.

linda January 23, 2009 (1:09 pm)

Of course the mayor does not want increased capacity at the ferry dock, SDOT just approved plans to reduce capacity on Fauntleroy Way–the primary route for ferry traffic.

56bricks January 23, 2009 (1:39 pm)

“City of Seattle does not suppot this recemmondation” and “city would not support expansion of Fauntleroy”. Is this the same “city” that turned down the baseball stadium,tunnel and many,many other issues? Thought not.

EAO January 23, 2009 (4:53 pm)

I remember talking with a WSF representative a few years back at a FCA meeting and was told that the WSF would love (and so would their passengers) to have more Vashon/Southworth ferry traffic go to downtown but it was the City of Seattle that would never allow for that to happen. Seems that there may need to be some give n’ take here by both the city and WSF. I live just a few blocks from the ferry and enjoy having it the neighborhood but don’t like the idea of it being expanded. Why not add some Southworth-Downtown ferry runs and expand the Vashon-Downtown runs and give passengers an option?

MAS January 23, 2009 (9:17 pm)

Once again our mayor not in step with the desires of the people. Comments here seem to overwhelmingly support expanded service at Fauntleroy.

Keith January 24, 2009 (10:32 am)

I agree with EAO’s suggestion – if expansion is needed/warranted, why not add some runs directly to downtown and have a wider range of ferry services and options? Seems like that would be a ‘cut to the chase’ solution, especially given the changes coming to Fauntleroy Way.

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