PORT TOWNSEND — Ridership has greatly increased in the past year on the Washington State Ferries route between Port Townsend and Coupeville.
“Ridership on the Washington State Ferries is up over previous years system-wide, with the Port Townsend-Coupeville route experiencing the biggest increase over last year,” said Dana Warr, deputy communications director for the state ferry system.
“Compared to other Wednesday-through-Sunday travel days in November in the past, the PT/Coupeville route is up 67 percent this year,” he said.
“This route consistently sees the biggest increases in ridership over weekends compared with all the other routes.”
Those taking the ferry during the Thanksgiving holiday could experience long lines and delays.
Warr said that most routes will experience more than double their average ridership during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
“We are projecting that during the holiday, the system will see around 350,000 riders, up around 50,000 from other Wednesday through Sunday periods in November 2017,” Warr said.
“Passengers and drivers should plan for extra travel time due to backups and longer waits.”
Warr said the busiest times for the Port Townsend to Coupeville route will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, after 9 a.m. Friday, after 10 a.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Wednesday will experience at-capacity traffic all day.
Leaving Coupeville and heading to Port Townsend, the busiest times are projected to be all day Wednesday, before 2 p.m. Thursday, before 7 p.m. Friday, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Reservations were still available Tuesday for the holiday weekend. Warr also suggested checking alerts and planning ahead.
By checking at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries, potential riders can check schedules, make reservations and see how many vehicle spaces are available in real time, Warr said.
“There is also real-time vessel watch that shows where on the route a ferry is located to assist in your planning.”
The state ferry system also updates Facebook and Twitter. Another way to stay informed is to sign up for specific ferry route alerts — available on the website — for cellphones or email.
“If there are any delays, a message will be sent to subscribers. We want to help people monitor the ferries a little bit better,” Warr said.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
