As the new home of WashPIRG's environmental work, Environment Washington can be contacted regarding this news release.
SEATTLE—In a report
released today, the Washington Public Interest Research Group (WashPIRG) concludes
that transit connections and pedestrian infrastructure along the Seattle waterfront
fail to adequately serve walk-on ferry passengers, and that redevelopment plans
should encourage ferry travel without cars. The report, entitled “Stranded
at the Dock?” shows how Seattle can better integrate passenger-only
ferry service into the regional transportation network.
“Given the negative impacts cars have on our health and environment, we
should be doing more to encourage ferry travel without cars,” said WashPIRG
Transportation Advocate Jessyn Schor. “Passenger-only ferry service is
an important way to get people into the city and for this service to be successful,
we need to make sure the facilities on either end support foot ferry passengers.
This means pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and good transit connections to
job centers throughout the region.”
In Bremerton, Kitsap Transit has committed to establishing new transit service
to serve Kitsap Ferry’s riders. On the Seattle waterfront, however, transit
service is spotty at best. At present, Alaskan Way is served by only two bus
lines and the Waterfront Streetcar. In addition, the topography in downtown
Seattle is quite challenging, with a steep hill between the ferry terminal and
downtown transit connections.
Yet, there is great potential to improve waterfront pedestrian access with the
redevelopment of Colman Dock and the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement. As these
projects move forward, WashPIRG recommends that specific steps be taken to encourage
ferry travel without cars:
- In the final design for the Alaskan Way Viaduct, ferry queuing should be located
so as to minimally impact the character of Pioneer Square, and future waterfront
access.
- In addition, pedestrian traffic should be separated from car traffic and routed
so that pedestrians can easily and safely access downtown amenities and traffic
connections.
- In Seattle, ferry terminal siting for both public and private ferry operators
should be coordinated with waterfront transit stops so that ferry passengers
can easily access transit.
- King County Metro should extend bus routes #3 and #4 down to the Colman Dock
so that foot ferry passengers have easy connections to downtown transit hubs.
These buses should be coordinated with ferry landings.
- To finance improved transit connections in both Seattle and on the Kitsap
Peninsula, the state and Puget Sound region must support new multimodal funding
for transit and ferry operations and capital investments.
“The Seattle waterfront will be undergoing a major makeover with the replacement
of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the redevelopment of Colman Dock. In order to
really improve transportation in the Puget Sound region, we need to look at
the system as a whole and to make sure that each piece – including passenger-only
ferry service – is integrated efficiently,” Schor stated. “Ferries
are an iconic part of our regional identity, and we should do more to foster
ferry travel without cars.”
