Washington State Ferries starts summer season on June 21

June 11, 2009 11:09 am
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Yet more proof that summer is just around the corner – so is the summer season that kicks off June 21 on Washington State Ferries, with details in a news release we just received – read on:

WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) will launch its summer 2009 ferry schedule on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21, with additional vessels, sailings and service hours on the more popular tourism routes. The increased service levels will help locals and tourists alike take summer trips to the San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, Vashon Island, and the Olympic Peninsula. The summer schedule runs through Sept. 26.

The new 2009 summer schedules are available at all ferry terminals and on the vessels. Summer service changes include:

* Anacortes/San Juan Islands: an additional vessel and increased hours of service.
* Anacortes/Sidney, B.C.: two daily trips instead of one
* Port Townsend/Keystone: additional weekend trips
* Mukilteo/Clinton: extra service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights
* Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth: extra weekend service on both Saturday and Sunday

This spring the Washington State Legislature authorized funding to provide additional service on the Port Townsend/Keystone route for the summer schedule, similar to the extra service provided last year during the peak season. The additional sailings are scheduled for Thursday through Sunday evenings and Monday mornings to help accommodate heavy summer traffic. The route is served by one 50-car vessel, the Steilacoom II.

Customers should begin planning ahead for the busy Fourth of July weekend. Reservations are available now for the holiday weekend on the Port Townsend/Keystone route. Travelers should allow extra time for long waits at all terminals during the holiday weekend, especially in the San Juan Islands. WSF encourages San Juan customers to walk on instead of taking their vehicles, and will provide free parking at the Anacortes terminal July 3-6. The following routes will be on a holiday schedule on Friday, July 3:

* Point Defiance/Tahlequah
* Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth
* Seattle/Bainbridge Island
* Edmonds/Kingston
* Mukilteo/Clinton

For more summer schedule details and other ferry system information, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries. To sign up for free e-mail alerts about service disruptions and other route information, click on the link in the far left column of the Web site.

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