Recent Study Conducted On Expanding Passenger-Only Ferry Service On Lake Washington and Union Bay

 

The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) has finalized its feasibility study of passenger-only ferry service to expand service on Puget Sound, Lake Union and Lake Washington.

The study looked at 45 potential routes and then identified seven routes for more detailed evaluation.

The proposed stops on Lake Washington under consideration are:

• Kenmore – University of Washington
• Lake Washington & Lake Union
• Kirkland – University of Washington
• Renton – University of Washington
• Renton – South Lake Union

PSRC's year-long study looked at potential routes and terminals, ridership demand, operational costs and possible electric fleet of ferries.  

Here is some information from the study:

Findings:

• On some routes, passenger-only ferry service would offer advantages over land-based transportation, including more direct connections and potentially faster service than comparable modes.
• Ferry service would strengthen the transportation resiliency of the region for both scheduled travel and response/recovery in an emergency event such as an earthquake.
• The marine operating environment presents unique planning considerations, including tribal treaty rights, confined waterways, sensitive habitat and marine mammal protection.
• There is a potentially large number of routes with a destination in Seattle. Work will need to be done to plan for Seattle terminal(s) with capacity to meet demand, whether on Puget Sound or any of the lake routes.
• Electrification potential of passenger ferries will continue to improve over time, with leaps being made in low and zero emissions technologies every year.. 

Here is a recent article from the Puget Sound Business Journal:  

Study identifies 7 potential foot-ferry routes for Puget Sound area

The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) last month released the results of its yearlong study examining potential passenger-only ferry routes in the area. The feasibility study narrowed the list of potential routes from 45 to seven: Tacoma-Seattle, Bellingham-Friday Harbor, Whidbey Island-Everett, Kenmore-University of Washington, Kirkland-UW, Renton-UW, and Renton-South Lake Union.

"This study was conducted at a conceptual planning level across a wide geographic area, limited to travel between the 12 counties that border Puget Sound," the report read. "Community engagement was a priority of this study, with engagement activities beginning early and continuing throughout the entire study process."

The study looked at a variety of criteria when evaluating the routes, including travel time savings, ridership potential, community interest and operational considerations. Although PSRC identified potential routes, the study is merely a starting point according to the agency. PSRC noted actual implementation would require service providers like transit agencies, local governments and private companies to develop the routes.

According to the report, Kirkland-UW would be the most-used route, with almost 148,000 riders per year. The route would cost a little more than $1.8 million to operate annually. The Kenmore-UW route, meanwhile, would host almost 130,000 riders and cost over $2 million to operate annually. Both routes would save riders about 15 minutes compared with a bus, according to PSRC.

The study noted that the potential Tacoma-Seattle route would take about 55 minutes and would need frequent service to meet demand. PSRC said the fleet would need two boats and a spare, creating an expensive upfront investment hurdle. Total annual operating costs would be close to $4.3 million annually and service over 73,000 riders per year.

For more information go here.