Fauntleroy ferry-terminal traffic: No more state troopers

| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

Because of state budget cuts, state troopers/cadets will no longer be helping direct traffic at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal as of this Sunday, according to a news release that just arrived. Read on for the details:

Ferry riders should plan for traffic control changes at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal in West Seattle starting July 17.

Due to budget cuts, Washington State Patrol (WSP) cadets will no longer be available to sort traffic headed to the Fauntleroy toll booths. Drivers will now be directed into the proper lanes for departure by Washington State Ferries (WSF) tollbooth attendants as they buy their tickets. WSF and WSP officials anticipate some confusion as drivers adjust to the changes.

Cadets also will not be available to manage street traffic to help expedite vehicles leaving the terminal. Backups may occur during periods of heavy congestion as drivers try to merge into regular city traffic.

“We’ve had to make a tough choice between federally-mandated security efforts and traffic control,” said Capt. Mark Thomas, commander of WSP’s Homeland Security Division. “Our first priority has to be safety and security. Drivers will now have to be guided by common courtesy and the rules of the road.”

Drivers also may notice ferries departing the West Seattle terminal without a full load. The Fauntleroy terminal provides service to both Vashon Island and Southworth. Sometimes drivers queued along the street for one destination can block access for those trying to reach the other.

In the past, if a departing boat had available space, cadets could go back along Fauntleroy Way, find the blocked drivers, and move them up to the tollbooths.

“We will miss that service,” said Steve Rodgers, director of operations for WSF. “WSP provided a great customer service and made the most efficient use of a valuable state resource.”

This service was among a number of cuts required by a budget reduction at the State Patrol for the next biennium. WSF is monitoring the situation closely to determine impacts and possible adjustments.

56bricks July 15, 2011 (11:38 am)

Just like metro. Gotta raise taxes and then raise fees and reduce service to pay for the unions. Obamacare+.

Jim July 15, 2011 (11:39 am)

So, an effort to reduce costs by one department in the state (no more officers at the ferry terminal) will cause an increase in costs for another (less full ferries = higher costs to get the cars across the water). I sure hope the bean counters included all of the beans in their analysis.

HelperMonkey July 15, 2011 (11:40 am)

oh great. those island folks don’t know how to drive off the dock in the first place without someone directing them. Looks like I’ll need to change my route home to avoid that area.

onalki July 15, 2011 (11:44 am)

To Commenter #1 — a truly stupid comment…

westseattledood July 15, 2011 (11:57 am)

Find an Eagle Scout troop to volunteer and direct lanes? Wouldn’t that be kind of like crossing-guards at schools? No? Ok, maybe not.

But I always did wonder why they had a traffic cop there anyway. Seemed odd until the mention of half-full ferries.

I’m with ya’ HelperMonkey – time to get a ferry schedule to keep in the car to avoid it.

B July 15, 2011 (12:03 pm)

onalki, I agree. 56bricks has lost some bricks.

John July 15, 2011 (12:17 pm)

This is so frustrating.

Well, there are really two frustrating parts. Many people don’t know how to exit the ferry onto Fauntleroy well. The seasoned Islanders know just how to do things, but one-time riders fail every time. The WSP does a great job of getting traffic off the dock and onto Fauntleroy efficiently, heavily aiding these lost souls.

Second, for departing Fauntleroy, the boats already often leave part-empty while lines pile up the hill, because there’s not an efficient throughput at the toll booths. Now they’re going to leave even more empty because the WSP isn’t there to guide people to the front of the line to make the boats.

The ferries already take their hits from all angles for inefficiency and cost, and without these supports, they’ll be even less efficient.

I feel for all those Island folk trying to get to/from work.

Michael Smith July 15, 2011 (12:29 pm)

Perhaps this would be the time to again try to get the ferries re-routed to the downtown Coleman facility. As a Fauntleroy resident of 40 years, this is a problem that has been getting worse. Surely, when this dock was built, it was never intended to cause this kind of traffic in our neighborhood. The solution is simple and best for all, close this terminal and save even more money.

cj July 15, 2011 (12:30 pm)

They way I see it they are sapping all services to pay for that cursed tunnel.

Wendell July 15, 2011 (1:13 pm)

1.Loading:
So, as it stands, you get to the toll booth, get a ticket from ferry-worker number one, then immediately give the ticket to ferry-worker number two, to scan. Then move to the correct lane. Why the extra scan of a ticket that was purchased less than a minute earlier? Wouldn’t ferry-worker number two’s time be better spent doing other things?

2. Unloading:
The two into one left turn is an accident waiting to happen. If not a Trooper, perhaps a job for ferry-worker number two?

s July 15, 2011 (1:36 pm)

A bigger ferry waiting area (previously proposed by WSF) would solve the blockage problem and eliminate the big line of cars along Fauntleroy. No money for that now, but maybe when the economy improves.
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A red light activated by toll workers when the ferry traffic exits would be a simple solution for cars getting onto Fauntleroy.
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Also, I thought WSF had decided to build an elevated passenger walkway…is that on hold because of budget issues?

bridge to somewhere July 15, 2011 (2:00 pm)

I have never understood why that intersection wasn’t managed by a light.

rob July 15, 2011 (2:02 pm)

I never understood why its necessary to have a state trooper direct traffic. Couldn’t anyone with a flagger’s card do the job?

kdee July 15, 2011 (3:06 pm)

Why does it take a state trooper to go up the line and ask people where they are going? You don’t need much training to do that. If the WA ferries can’t figure out how to get that done, they are pretty pathetic.

JanS July 15, 2011 (3:19 pm)

lights or a few well placed signs…how hard is that?

As to why there is a second ferry worker scanning tickets….there is always some numnut who will try to stiff the ferry system by blowing past the ticket booth..hence, the babysitting…

s July 15, 2011 (4:46 pm)

Another reason for the second ferry worker…many people buy multi-ride passes or single ride tickets that they print from home. This reduces bottlenecks at the tollbooths since they can bypass the tollbooths and go right to the waiting area. But while in the waiting area, they still need their tickets scanned, so a ferry worker walks by the cars and scans, or scans as they load.

s July 15, 2011 (4:51 pm)

As for tourists not knowing that the two exiting lanes merge, just put up a merging sign! What would that cost, $100?
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And I agree with the other posters…just pay someone minimum wage to walk up the line of cars and tell people where to go.

Steph July 15, 2011 (5:30 pm)

Not a ferry rider, but I will miss seeing the uniformed men as I drive past.
Will avoid this route for that reason and the mess it will likely cause for traffic.

Mike July 15, 2011 (5:44 pm)

get one of the $200k+ a year ferry workers to do it.

James July 15, 2011 (5:53 pm)

This is going to be a nightmare.. The entire neighborhood jokes about how bad of drivers the ferry traffic are.

onalki July 15, 2011 (6:06 pm)

Mike, two comments above — yet another truly stupid (and uninformed) comment.

22blades July 15, 2011 (8:23 pm)

Great.. gotta beak out the kevlar vest on the weekends during summer.

Comment #1 is just plain wacky. I challenge #3 to ride the ferry in August on a Saturday and see how well he does WITHOUT direction (& “protection”)

I know each and every one of us is the center of the universe but can we TRY to get along?

Rosanne July 15, 2011 (8:25 pm)

Why doesn’t the ferry go to downtown? I’ve never understood the need for the ferry to arrive here since I live nearby and I end up following the massive procession all the way to the bridge & then to downtown. Anyone that wants to counter back by saying “150-200 extra cars on the road is no big deal” can keep quiet—-it IS a big deal, causes major backups & lots of road rage.

s July 15, 2011 (10:09 pm)

Rosanne, in response to your question, here are some reasons:
-Many Fauntleroy ferry riders do not need to go downtown (I’m one of them).
-The ferry ride to downtown would take a lot longer, take more diesel, and increase ferry emissions.
-Dumping another run downtown would increase congestion there, both at the terminal and on the roads
-Ferry traffic brings business to West Seattle
-The local ferry gives West Seattlites some fun day trip options
-The local ferry is part of the West Seattle culture
-There is a giant ferry dock in Fauntleroy that cost a lot of money to build…so let’s use it
-For old discussions on this topic, type this into the WSB search in the upper right: ferry downtown

David July 16, 2011 (4:50 am)

LOL … I love some of the crazy Tea Party nuts on here who think pulling a state cop off traffic duty is somehow related to Obama’s health care plan. There is no limit to the lack of intelligence there, but the crazy is kinda funny!

We do NOT need some with a state cops training to stand there and get cars to turn the right way. To #1 (the crazy tea party joker), this is LESS government waste. Why aren’t you applauding this?

JRF July 17, 2011 (12:01 am)

A great way to evade the hassles of vehicle load/offload is to stop dragging a ton or two of vehicle around everywhere you go. Use transit, a bike or both.

Sorry, comment time is over.