‘We heard you’: Washington State Ferries cancels disruptive ‘procedures’ at Fauntleroy dock

| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

After two and a half weeks, Washington State Ferries says it’s giving up on new “procedures” that were intended to speed up loading at the Fauntleroy dock, but caused new problems instead. This afternoon’s announcement:

On Monday, May 23, WSF instituted new ticketing procedures at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal in order to address several problems identified by the passengers, ferry advisory committee members, and WSF. Over the past three weeks, we have learned from passenger feedback and direct observation that the new procedures were not working. Based on this experience, we are suspending the change and returning to the ticketing procedures that were previously in place starting on Friday, June 10.

Passengers with pre-purchased tickets will be waved through the tollbooth, and their tickets will be scanned on the dock. Passengers who do not have tickets must stop to buy them at the tollbooth. We recognize that this solution does not address the underlying difficulties at the Fauntleroy Terminal, including limited vehicle capacity, challenges with consistent fare recovery, and an outdated schedule designed for smaller vessels and lower traffic volume. These factors create conflict between maintaining the schedule and filling the boats.

Going forward, we will reach out to and communicate with stakeholders as we explore options to improve service within the constraints of our system. Thank you to all of our customers for your patience. We heard you, and we apologize for the disruption and inconvenience this change has caused.

Rick June 9, 2016 (6:29 pm)

Common sense prevailed. Now if we could only get that at citywide, countywide, statewide and countrywide levels! Not holding my breath, but I’ll take this small win.

Jon Wright June 9, 2016 (8:51 pm)

It was never clear to me what problem(s) these new procedures were supposed to address.

K'lo June 9, 2016 (8:56 pm)

As a former employee of WSF at the Fauntelroy terminal, I wrote to Lynn Griffith to express concern over the newer, speedier way to move traffic. In a reply from someone in charge of this transistion I heard the word “stakeholders” and wondered – who and what are stakeholders? Evidently, they are folks that are looking at the problem on paper and not actually taking a look at the actual set up and constraints of the dock by “direct observation”. Thank goodness the powers that be at WSF opened their eyes, ears and minds to the people that deal with this situation on a daily basis and have decided they made a mistake. My suggestion is this:if you want to try something new at this dock, don’t do it during pre-summer travel with construction happening at the Vashon Terminal AND at the top of dock at Fauntelroy.

Rick June 10, 2016 (8:37 am)

Should have just built the dang bridge when we had the opportunity. 3 stop schedule is a booger. But then, Vashon would have had to join the current century.

Petra June 10, 2016 (9:12 am)

Why do we have to have dock-side ticketing at all? Purchase tickets on line and come prepared to get on the boat. I know it puts more onous on the travellers, but that is how transportation often works these days. Be prepared. Again, just asking if this is an option.

flimflam June 10, 2016 (9:30 am)

so, metro removes garbage can, metro returns garbage can. WSF begins a new procedure, WSF backtracks from new procedure. do any of these agencies really look into what they are doing? seems like a lot of wasted time, likely $$ for all this bumbling around.

Rick June 10, 2016 (9:57 am)

Gosh golly, it’s just money and.. job security. Wish I had one of those blank checks. For the public good, of course>
AMD June 10, 2016 (10:06 am)

They make decisions based on the information available to them. Sometimes they guess wrong (no one’s got a crystal ball). I think reversing course when you realize you’re wrong is better than stubbornly moving forward with bad choices so that random people don’t accuse you of “bumbling” when things don’t turn out the way you thought they would.
- Jon Wright June 10, 2016 (2:44 pm)
  
  While not a fan of the new procedure, I ABSOLUTELY 100% agree with this sentiment and appreciate that WSF was willing to reverse an unpopular decision.
- Rick June 10, 2016 (8:06 pm)
  
  Happens a lot here.

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