FERRIES: Service added on Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route

| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, ferries seen from Lincoln Park at midday earlier this month)

Though Washington State Ferries has said it doesn’t expect to be able to restore the “Triangle Route” to three-boat service until later this year, it has added some sailings starting this week. Here’s the announcement:

To help supplement service, Washington State Ferries has added the following weekday service on our Fauntleroy/ Vashon/ Southworth “Triangle” route to fill gaps in the two-boat schedule when crewing allows:

11:15 a.m. existing Southworth to Vashon will load Fauntleroy traffic
11:50 a.m. Vashon to Fauntleroy
12:15 p.m. Fauntleroy to Vashon (continues to Southworth)
7:35 p.m. Fauntleroy to Southworth (currently to Vashon)
8:10 p.m. Southworth to Vashon
8:30 p.m. Vashon to Fauntleroy
8:55 p.m. Fauntleroy to Vashon
9:20 p.m. Vashon to Southworth
9:35 p.m. Southworth to Vashon (Fridays only)

As reported here, WSF hopes to restore three-boat service on weekdays in May, then full 7-days-a-week restoration in fall.

M March 14, 2023 (8:53 am)

I wonder if they’ll EVER reveal what caused the ferry crash last year. Feels like they’re just stalling, hoping people will forget about it.

WSB March 14, 2023 (9:04 am)

I have been watching the federal docket. Looking at other incident tumelines, it often takes more than a year.
Jan March 14, 2023 (9:18 am)

I was on that boat and have been anxious to hear to official cause. I have heard rumors – I’m a Vashon Island resident.
- SOS March 14, 2023 (3:28 pm)
  
  Are the incident crew members of the wheelhouse and the engine room back at work?
  - Bus March 14, 2023 (7:03 pm)
    
    I recall the captain resigned shortly after the incident. If the report was out this quickly, that would be a miracle. It has been less than a year. The helicopter crash at KOMO happened in March of 2014 and the report didn’t come out until October (I think) of 2016. NTSB is thorough, and that’s not quick.

MAS March 15, 2023 (6:26 am)

The triangle run is the hardest work and least attractive choice for a crew member in the system, and since seniority decides who gets which runs, that means the triangle run gets the least senior crew. If you use that run a lot and have experience on the other runs as a passenger that couldn’t be more clear and evident on almost every run. The restoration plan doesn’t mention this, but that lack of interest in staffing the triangle run likely is driving how long it takes to restore a run that employees tend to pick as their last choice. There are exceptions I’m sure for individuals, but as a whole that is the reality we live with for our service.

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