SEATTLE – Washington State Ferries announced today, until further notice, all state ferries will operate on their current reduced schedules with the option for phased-in service changes based on the progress of the state’s COVID-19 recovery and other factors.
Any changes in ferry service to the current COVID Response Service Plan will be based on four metrics, all of which will be considered before any modifications are made on any ferry route. They are:
- Ridership – System-wide, passenger numbers are down more than 60% compared to this time last year.
- Crew availability – More than 150 crewmembers are either people who are at higher risk for severe illness or unavailable due to the pandemic.
- Vessel availability – There is a lack of boats available for service due to the maintenance shutdown earlier this year, combined with a continued reduction of U.S. Coast Guard inspection capacity.
- Funding – The State Department of Transportation is currently losing millions in revenue from the gas tax, state ferry recovery, etc.
Customers are strongly encouraged to ride a state ferry in a vehicle and remain in the vehicle throughout the sailing if possible.
A face covering and physical distancing are highly recommended for all walk-on passengers.