Did you know Washington State has the largest ferry system in the U.S.? Last month, it was announced Washington ferries will be converting from diesel operated to battery-powered, and the Seattle-Bainbridge route will be one of the first to have a charging point at both ends.
The decision to switch power systems came from a growing popularity in electric shipping. Experts predict the that converting to battery power will help cut costs and reduce diesel pollution across the entire ferry fleet. In 2018, the Seattle-Bainbridge Island route served over 6 million riders and carried over one million vehicles, making it the most used ferry route in our state.
In the beginning of 2019, Washington State Ferries created a “2040 Long Range Plan” that outlines goals to accommodate the growing number of ferry riders. Earlier this year, the demolition process began for the 53-year-old Seattle terminal building. Ticketing and operations have been moved to the first section of the new terminal, which is expected to be complete in 2023. The Bainbridge terminal is also expecting updates in 2021. The plan is to replace the existing wood-supported walkways that ferry travelers use to deboard and onboard the ferry. Our state ferry system, and specifically the Seattle-Bainbridge system, will most definitely be seeing some changes in coming years.