Washington State Ferries is looking at options for upgrading or replacing the Mukilteo ferry terminal with one that provides better access to train and bus connections, and one possibility is moving the terminal from Mukilteo to either Everett or Edmonds.
You can learn more about the “multimodal ferry terminal” concepts that the ferry system is considering during public meetings this week. The one closest to Edmonds will be in Mukilteo Wednesday, Oct. 13 from 5-7 p.m. at Mukilteo City Hall, 11930 Cyrus Way.
During the meeting and “public scoping” open house you can:
• Learn about the project purpose and need.
• Help “scope” out the issues to study in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
• Review the concepts under consideration.
• Provide feedback.
For those who don’t want to travel to Mukilteo, the ferry system is hosting a “virtual open house” online on Thursday, Oct. 14 from 5-7 p.m., during which time participants can review all meeting materials, view a live presentation and provide comments electronically. Register online for this meeting here.
Why is the ferry system considering improving or relocating the Mukilteo Terminal? According to information provided by WSF, the ferry route is part of State Route 525, the major transportation corridor connecting Whidbey Island to the Seattle-Everett metropolitan area. The ferry system’s second busiest route for vehicle traffic, SR 525 also has the third largest annual ridership, and future use is expected to increase by 73 percent by 2030.
“The Mukilteo terminal has not had significant improvements since the early 1980s and components of the facility are aging,” Washington State Ferries said. “The current terminal layout makes it difficult for passengers to get in and out of the terminal and contributes to traffic congestion, safety concerns and conflicts between vehicle and pedestrian traffic.”
By building a new terminal, the ferry system aims to improve operations and multimodal connections and accommodate future growth. Among the components that would be included:
- One operational ferry slip (with future option for two)
- New multi-bay transit area
- Pick-up/drop-off area
- Holding lanes with dedicated staging for bicycles, carpools and priority vehicles
Construction wouldn’t begin until 2015, with an estimated completion date of 2019.
More information is available on the ferry system website or by emailing Hadley Rodero at RoderoH@wsdot.wa.gov.
Isn’t it about time we stop wasting money on boats and boat crews and build a North Sound Bridge across?
They did — it’s called Deception Pass.
Maxima, … study the sound a bit first (Boat traffic, depth, span,etc.)
@ Maxima: That’s freakin’ HILARIOUS!
We don’t need anymore ferry traffic in Edmonds. They’ve already done enough damage to traffic flow thru our city.
Mukilteo to Clinton approx 2.7 miles, longest suspension bridge in world 2.4 miles cost $6 billion and 12 years to build. A bridge would need to accommodate USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier going under or through it. Average water depth 500-600 ft. If you built a floating bridge it would be almost twice as long as the Hood canal bridge, the longest floating bridge in the world.
If they do this, they should revive the plan to move the Edmonds ferry dock to the south end of the marina and reroute ferry traffic away from downtown Edmonds. That way we could accommodate more traffic, encourage revitalization to the west retail area (where the antique mall is) and bring more visitors to our city.
Build the new multimodal station in Edmonds first to handle the extra Whidbey Island traffic from Mukilteo’s upgrade or build a second slip at Main Street and an exiting overpass along Railroad Avenue over Dayton Street to connect to SR 104. If this can’t be done then build a new interim or permanent ferry terminal in Downtown Everett before renovating Mukilteo.
Dear Internet,
I’d really appreciate it if every single website comment, from now on, could be as useful and informative as the one up there by Todd (#6). I am looking in your general direction, YouTube.
I would also like a pony.
Thanks,
CJ
The staging area for reservations and holding could be at the “brownzone area” of the Old Unocal. Since a permanent rail station is being constructed, I think we need to look at what is already on the plate.
At Friday Harbor and some other ferry areas in Eurpoe, people put their cars in place at a close but distant staging area and then the cars move onto the Ferry. The distance between Main Street and the Unocal site is less than 3/4 of a mile. Maybe if we implement reservations that could be an option.
The only issue then would become moving folks via a jitney or something else from that original Edmonds Crossing area to downtown.
Just ideas….
Anyone in favor of moving the Mukilteo route to Edmonds has no concept of what it will do to traffic volume. There would have to be a non-stop flow of traffic on Edmonds Way/SR104 due to the increased number of ferries delivering and picking up cars. Even with the size of the Unocal property, there is likely to not be enough parking for traffic for both Kingston and the Mukilteo traffic. There’d likely have to be an elevated parking structure built to accomodate all of it.
The multi-modal is a good idea for the Unocal property. But if you put too much stuff there, it’ll soon be just as congested as the downtown locations.
What should happen first is, is to move the route that comes down Puget Dr. to Ninth Ave.. Then the fights and disturbances would stop or be reduced at Sunset and Pine St. when it gets backed up. And better yet, it should be routed south on Highway 99 to 238th and along Edmonds Way.
If we move the ferry terminal, why don’t we move it to downtown Seattle. This would absolutely improve walk on traffic
CJ Alexander – I love your comment and would like permission to use it elsewhere. And I hope you get your pony!