PORT TOWNSEND — Although the state ferries system is switching to a spring schedule, North Olympic Peninsula residents won’t see a change in service until May.
On May 13, a second boat will join the Port Townsend-Coupeville route for the season.
Until that time, the MV Kennewick, which went into service in January, leaves Port Townsend for the Coupeville terminal on Whidbey Island every 90 minutes from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.
After May 13, the MV Salish will join the Kennewick on the route, which will operate with the same start and finish times but with departures every 45 minutes between 10:30 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
The MV Coho, which is operated by the privately owned Black Ball Ferry Line between Port Angeles and Victoria, will not change its present schedule until May 17. On that date, it will expand the number of crossings of the Strait of Juan de Fuca until Sept. 23.
The state ferries system provides two other routes used by travelers on and off the Peninsula: Bainbridge-Seattle and Kingston-Edmonds.
Two boats operate on both routes year-round.
This year, there will be no changes between their winter and spring schedules.
Ferries leave Seattle for Bainbridge Island approximately every 50 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 10:55 p.m., with late sailings at 12:15 a.m. and 1:35 a.m.
Ferries leave Edmonds bound for Kingston at intervals between 30 and 45 minutes from 5:35 a.m. to 11:45 p.m., with a late sailing at 12:55 a.m.
The official crossing times are 35 minutes for Seattle-Bainbridge and 30 minutes for Edmonds-Kingston.
The switch to the spring schedule Sunday will affect other routes in the state ferries system.
The international route to Sidney, B.C., will resume from Anacortes, and the schedule includes additional trips on the Anacortes-Friday Harbor run.
Green-printed copies of the new schedule are available at terminals, aboard vessels and online.
For more information, visit www.wsdot.com/ferries/schedule.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
