District 1 Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold shared this news in her weekly constituent's newsletter
Washington State Ferries has re-started work on the Fauntleroy ferry terminalreplacement project, which was delayed last year due to COVID-19.
They will be holding virtual public outreach meetings on March 17 and 18 as the first part of public engagement for the project. You can register here to participate:
Wednesday, Mar. 17
Thursday, Mar. 18
Below is information Washington State Ferries has provided about the project:
This project was identified in the WSF 2040 Long Range Plan given the preservation need and long-established operational constraints and inefficiencies of the terminal (you can download the 2040 plan here).
The first phase (2021 through early-2023) of the project is conducted as a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration per federal requirements (23 U.S.C 168 and 23 U.S.C. 139). The PEL study helps identify transportation issues, environmental concerns, community values and economic goals early in project planning. A detailed environmental review process follows a PEL study, as required by both the National Environmental Policy Act and the State Environmental Policy Act. Information gathered in the PEL study is carried forward into the environmental review process, saving time and money.
The terminal currently faces several challenges, including:
- Parts of the terminal are aging, seismically vulnerable and overdue for replacement
- Rising sea levels could damage the superstructure from debris during high tides in the future
- Long-standing operational challenges, including:
- Challenges with vehicles queuing on Fauntleroy Way, with only one shoulder holding lane to serve two destinations.
- A small terminal, with only enough dock space for approximately 80 cars, that is served by three 124-car Issaquah class ferries using a single slip.
Here's the project timeline WSF has provided:
- Fall 2016-2019 – Near-term operational improvements at the dock
- 2017 – Improved vehicle processing at tollbooths
- 2018 – Implemented new operational plan for Fauntleroy terminal
- 2019 – Launched new sailing schedule for Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route
- 2020-2023 – Planning and environmental review for terminal preservation project
- 2021 – Launch community engagement for the project
- 2023-2025 – Design and construction planning
- 2025-2027 – Construction
(Future dates tentative based on impacts from COVID-19).