Kaleetan to help alleviate holiday traffic

Washington State Ferries (WSF) will make several vessel moves this holiday season to restore capacity in the San Juans while still maintaining the organization’s preservation and maintenance schedule.

After the Thanksgiving holidays, the 100-car Evergreen State replaced the maintenance bound 160-car Elwha on the International route. Domestically, this change impacted the morning “red-eye” capacity out of all islands, the 1:40 p.m. from Friday Harbor to Anacortes, and the 5:05 p.m. and 8:25 p.m. sailing Monday through Thursday nights from Anacortes to the islands.

But the ferry system has prepared an alternative to alleviate this particular problem. On evenings that historically carry heavy traffic on the 8:25 p.m. sailing, WSF will send the 6:55 p.m. inter-island vessel to Anacortes after departing Lopez to pick up Friday Harbor traffic. This will clear space on the Evergreen State at 8:25 p.m. Specific dates when this will occur will be available later next week and will be posted on the WSF web site, on the ferries and at the terminals.

To help alleviate overloads during the holidays, Washington State Ferries will upsize the San Juan Islands route by replacing the 100-car Sealth with the 160-car Kaleetan, beginning Monday, Dec. 10.

“While not ideal, this will help accommodate much of our holiday traffic,” says Bob Distler, chair of the Ferry Advisory Committee for the San Juan Islands. “We are working with WSF management to adjust eastbound early morning vehicular allocations and make adjustments to afternoon loading priorities at Anacortes to maximize use of the Kaleetan’s capacity during the two weeks immediately preceding Christmas. Our analysis of prior years’ traffic patterns shows December is a time when islanders make more trips to the mainland. It’s when schools in the San Juans let out for the holidays, and when traffic tends to increase. WSF management has committed to our joint efforts to minimize the impact of the smaller Evergreen State on residents and visitors.”

Friday Harbor residents are encouraged to utilize the increased capacity sailings of the Kaleetan, which include the often-overloaded 8:05 a.m. departure to Anacortes, and return from Anacortes at 2:35 p.m or 5:55 p.m.

The Elwha is expected to return to the San Juan Islands on Dec. 23.

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