How’s three-boat Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry service going? That and other topics up for discussion at WSF’s online meetings

| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

Lots of hot topics for Washington State Ferries lately, including the restoration of three-boat service on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route. Got a question? Concern? Comment? That and many other topics are up for discussion at WSF’s fall system-wide community meetings, happening online at 12:30 pm and 6 pm Thursday, October 2. WSF boss Steve Nevey says, “Each meeting will begin with a brief presentation about this summer’s increased service, our new vessel build program and recent changes here at WSF. Most of the time will be dedicated to answering questions.” You can register for one or both (WSF promises duplicate content) right now by going here.

IDC9 September 18, 2025 (9:06 pm)

My questions are: 1. On the WSF website, when you look for the Fauntleroy-Vashon two boat schedule (the schedule they’ll run when the third boat isn’t available), the weekend departure times from Vashon are from the old schedule, the one that was in place from 2021 to this past Spring, that was dumped, while the departures from Fauntleroy are from the new schedule. I’d like to know what the correct weekend departure times from Vashon are supposed to be on this new two boat schedule. It has been like this on the WSF site all summer, and, since this two boat schedule hasn’t been deployed since the third boat officially returned this summer (the “ghost boat” doesn’t count here”), no one seems to have noticed the error. 2. With the announcement this week that the San Juan Islands will now be operating on the Spring and Fall timetable during the Winter sailing period as well (previously, winter service was reduced up there), I wonder if Fauntleroy might see its third boat officially return on weekends as well this upcoming Winter? The “ghost boat” was running on most, if not all, weekends this past Winter, so WSF has set a bit of a precedent for it. Pair this with what is happening in the San Juan Islands, and it would essentially mean that all of the domestic (everything but Sidney, BC) service that WSF cut back in the 2002/2003 timeframe would be fully restored. Bob Ferguson has made WSF a key priority for himself, so this move would further show he is serious about making WSF a better system for everyone.