Changes coming for ferry riders at Colman Dock

May 12, 2018 9:30 am
Work continues on the Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock Project. In April, the last three pile caps for the King County Water Taxi and Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry passenger-only ferry dock facility. The next major step is to install deck slabs. These are currently being fabricated, with the first slabs expected to arrive in about two months. Crews are also building columns to support the pedestrian bridge that will connect the passenger-only ferry dock to the main terminal building. (Photo courtesy of WSF)
Work continues on the Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock Project. In April, the last three pile caps for the King County Water Taxi and Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry passenger-only ferry dock facility. The next major step is to install deck slabs. These are currently being fabricated, with the first slabs expected to arrive in about two months. Crews are also building columns to support the pedestrian bridge that will connect the passenger-only ferry dock to the main terminal building. (Photo courtesy of WSF)

Islanders catching a boat back to Bainbridge — as well as everybody else driving or walking onto a ferry at Seattle’s Colman Dock — will be have their routines changed this spring and summer as construction continues at the ferry terminal.

The indoor waiting area at Colman Dock will be for ticketed passengers only, and the vehicle entrance will move six blocks south in early summer.

The changes inside and outside of the terminal building will allow contractor crews working for Washington State Ferries to replace sections of dock currently used to hold vehicles waiting for ferries, and begin partial demolition of the terminal building, according to WSF.

The existing ferry terminal will remain open and operational to the public throughout construction.

Ferry riders have navigated an evolving Colman Dock in recent months. Earlier this year, crews reduced the interior of the terminal building by half and created one waiting area for both Bainbridge and Bremerton departures.

From now through mid-2019, WSF notes that customers should expect the following additional changes inside the building:

• A new waiting area, with more turnstiles: Bainbridge and Bremerton combined waiting area moves to the southwest corner, with two more standard turnstiles for a total of 10, plus two accessible paddle gates and one manual gate.

The new waiting area will be designated for ticketed passengers only. Public restrooms will remain available to all.

• New ticket window location: Ticket sales window and ticket kiosks will move closer to the terminal passenger entry doors, across from Puget Sound Provisions. According to WSF, the new location helps maximize space in the terminal by separating people waiting in line to purchase ferry fares from the ticketed-only passenger waiting area.

• Expect indoor crowds: Less public space brings more crowding during the afternoon commute and large sports events. Customers can avoid crowds by pre-purchasing their return tickets, and arriving at the terminal no more than 15 minutes before departure.

There will be no changes to how pedestrians enter or exit the terminal building, and the existing Marion Street pedestrian bridge to First Avenue remains in place until mid-2019.

People driving aboard will see some shifting in vehicle access this summer.

Starting in early summer, the entrance to the toll plaza access lanes for drivers will move six blocks south from Madison Street/Alaskan Way to S. Jackson Street/Alaskan Way.

Drivers who are dropping off or picking up passengers at the loading zone in front of the terminal building will continue to use the Madison Street entrance.

Colman Dock is Washington’s largest ferry terminal and supports transportation across Puget Sound between downtown Seattle and communities in Kitsap County and the Olympic Peninsula.

WSF notes that more than 9 million people use the terminal each year, but the building is getting old and vulnerable to earthquake damage. Construction to replace the terminal began in August 2017 and will continue until 2023.