WASHINGTON, USA — By the end of the year, Washington State Ferries will select a preferred alternative plan to study. It's the next stage in replacing the Fauntleroy Terminal.
Community members are split about the options on the table.
The current terminal, built in the 1950s, is not fit to withstand an earthquake. That's one of the driving reasons for replacement. For that reason, community advisory groups support replacing the terminal. However, expanding the dock is a sticking issue for some.
Citing environmental reasons, WSF will not widen the new dock, but making it longer is an option to accommodate more vehicles. Plans and renderings of the alternatives can be found here.
Frank Immel and Mike Dey are part of the Fauntleroy Ferry Advisory Committee working with WSF. They live blocks away from the terminal.
"We are in support of the replacing the dock," Dey said. "What we're not in agreement with WSF is the expansion of the dock."
Currently, 84 vehicles fit on the dock. That doesn't fill the ferries.
A majority of the options presented to the community would make the dock longer to accommodate more cars. Those options include:
- Alternative A: 76 vehicles on the dock; 110 vehicles on Fauntleroy Way
- Alternative A-1,2,3: 84 vehicles on the dock; 102 vehicles on Fauntleroy Way
- Alternative B: 124 vehicles on the dock; 62 vehicles on Fauntleroy Way
- Alternative B-1, 2: 155 vehicles on the dock; 31 vehicles on Fauntleroy Way
- Alternative B-3: 124 vehicles on the dock; 62 vehicles on Fauntleroy Way
- Alternative C:186 vehicles on the dock; 0 vehicles on Fauntleroy Way
"It's incredibly hard to effectively load the ferry if the terminal doesn't hold the capacity of at least the ferry," Justin Hirsch, Vashon Island Ferry Terminal Advisory Committee Chair, said. "Speaking for myself and Vashon Island, we do feel strongly that an expanded dock is necessary."
Hirsch said problems at Fauntleroy have a ripple effect on Vashon and Southworth.
"One late sailing turns into other late sailings and it is a cascading delay that escalates during the day," he said.
Hirsch, along with Immel and Dey, have decided to work together to address the needs of their respective communities. They are aware not everyone will be happy with what's decided.
Despite their differing opinion on expanding dock capacity, all three of the men said the long lines sometimes lead to tense situations along Fauntleroy. They've all witnessed confrontations like people cutting in line.
Immel and Dey said they've directed drivers to go to the back of the line when they've witnessed line cutting. Hirsch said a driver hit him and about five other cars that were parked for the ferry.
"That kind of chaos regularly occurs on Fauntleroy Way," Hirsch said.
Immel and Dey think some of that chaos could be stopped if WSF got rid of the toll booths and used the Good2Go system. That's an option WSF is researching.
"The toll booths are the choke point, like in any freeway system, it takes time," Dey said.
Hirsch said that plan could backfire.
"That's necessarily going to turn into increased car fares. We don't know what the increased fares are going to look like, but we have every reason to believe it'll be substantial," Hirsch said.
WSF is looking into several options to address the problems at Fauntleroy Terminal. They want community feedback before they make final decisions. You can email your opinion to FauntleroyTermProj@wsdot.wa.gov.