Timeline Of Ferries’ COVID-19 Response in 2020

Contributed Photo/WSF

From Washington State Ferries

As COVID-19 began to impact our region, we took steps to ensure the safety of our passengers and employees. Many of these actions happened swiftly, and, like everyone, we had to adapt to changing information and guidance.

March

• Closed the galleys to limit passenger contact.
• Started offering ticket refunds and suspended no-show fees.
• Announced the first round of service reductions in response to dramatic decreases in ridership.
• Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility operations and construction on Colman Dock and Mukilteo Terminal projects are halted in response to statewide mandate.
• Increasing the frequency of deep cleaning our passenger cabins was one way we worked to ensure a healthy environment for our ferry riders and crew.

April

• Our vessels begin participating in the worldwide movement to “Make a Joyful Noise” by sounding whistles while underway.
• IT team begins installation of self-swipe credit card readers at toll booths and ticket windows to limit contact.
• Announced the extension of Winter Schedule and continued to postpone service on the Sidney, B.C. route.
• Began installing sneeze guards at our toll booths throughout the system.

May

• Eagle Harbor reopens with a new health and safety plan for low-risk activities.
• Announced new terminal building occupancy guidelines and installed floor and chair markings for social distancing.
• WSF Employee mask mandate begins.
• Customers are advised to limit ferry travel to essential purposes ahead of the typically busy Memorial Day weekend.

June

• Announced we will continue to operate our current reduced schedules with the option for phased service changes based on ridership, crew availability, vessel availability, and funding.
• Restarted the new employee orientation to train more crew members.
• Masks are required on all vessels in compliance with the Governor’s statewide order requiring that face masks and coverings be worn in public.
• WSF hosts a virtual community meeting with nearly 400 participants.

July

• Nine new deck employees graduate following completion of new deck employee training orientation.
• Installed additional safety notices in our terminals, at the tollbooths, and on the vessels about wear face coverings.

August

• Restored daily two-boat service on Seattle/Bainbridge route and two-boat weekend service on the Edmonds/Kingston and Mukilteo/Clinton routes.
• New contactless turnstiles are installed at terminals system-wide.
• Second set of new deck employees and 10 new terminal employees graduate from training.

September

• Premera installs a mask decal on the Wenatchee.
• Sept.5: Busiest day since Feb. 22 with nearly 65,000 riders Ridership is still much lower than the same day in 2019, when we had close to 100,000 customers.

October

• Started issuing WSF Mask Warning Notice Cards to educate passengers on proper COVID-19 safety protocols.
• No-show fees for vehicle reservations resume.
• The call center, while still teleworking, resumes booking vehicle reservations for customers.
• Restored two boat service on the Seattle/Bremerton route.

November/December

• WSF asks that passengers limit travel to essential trips over the holidays to comply with state guidance.

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