Guemes Island Ferry
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Feedback requested on potential changes to Guemes Island Ferry operations
A community forum will take place at 6:00 PM on Thursday November 7, 2019 at the Guemes Island Community Center
Ferry Operations & Service Analysis – New survey open until September 15
Content: Skagit County is working with BERK Consulting and KPFF Consulting Engineers to study possible system improvements that address issues identified by the ferry community in two previous online surveys. Once we understand what you are most interested in, we will look at the operational and cost implications of the preferred options.
BERK and KPFF’s work will result in two packages of system improvement options (both prioritizing two round-trips per hour).
Package 1: Service improvements that can be attained with minimal investment
Package 2: Additional service improvements that come at a higher cost
Future opportunities for feedback will be a November 7 public forum on Guemes Island and a second online survey this fall. You can send comments regarding the system improvement study to ferrycomments@co.skagit.wa.us.
Once the study is complete, we will present the packages to the County Commissioners in January 2020.
For more information visit www.publicinput.com/guemesferry. To view results of previous surveys, visit the Guemes Ferry Replacement Survey and the Guemes Ferry System Improvements Survey.
July 17 Community Meeting
Thank you to those of you who attended the July 17 community meeting, hosted by the County Commissioners, with Public Works, BERK, KPFF to discuss the operations and service analysis. Presentation / Audio For more information, visit www.publicinput.com/guemesferry.
Ferry Dock Maintenance & Repair Project Announcement:
Skagit County has three separate projects currently in progress for maintenance and repair of the Anacortes and Guemes Island ferry docks.
Skagit County signed a contract with American Construction, Inc. on April 22, 2019, for the Ferry Terminal Winch Replacement project. This project will replace the 40-year-old transfer span winches. Overnight construction is anticipated in late June/early July 2019, once new winch components have been fabricated.
- Update 7/30/2019: The Ferry Terminal Winch Replacement Project is in the construction phase. Our Contractor, American Construction, Inc. is waiting on the fabrication of the winch drums, which has taken longer than anticipated. Installation is expected by the end of August.
Ferry Terminal Maintenance – Phase 2, is expected to go to bid in June 2019, with construction anticipated to start in September 2019. This project will address a number of items on both docks, including the repair of the apron gusset plates, and replacement of the counterweight cables and sheaves, apron hinge pins, and headframe handrails, among other items.
- Update 7/30/2019: The Ferry Terminal Maintenance – Phase 2 Project is nearing the end of the design phase. We have completed the final review of the design drawings and are in the process of writing the bid specifications. We anticipate bidding the project in late August/early September with repairs starting later this fall.
The Ferry Dock Rehabilitation project is currently in the design phase, with construction scheduled for 2020. This project will replace three concrete girders that Skagit County was not able to replace during the dock reconstruction in 2011. These girders are located under the NE corner of the dock, well outside of the area where vehicular traffic drives. These three girders are the main factor in the lower sufficiency rating given to the Anacortes dock.
Once all these projects are complete, the Washington State Department of Transportation will reevaluate the sufficiency rating of the docks during its next bridge inspection.
More information on how WSDOT and the Federal Highway Administration classify bridges.
Related:
Contact
Captain Rachel Rowe
Ferry Operations Division Manager
Skagit County Public WorksAnacortes Terminal - 500 I Ave. Anacortes, WA 98221
Ferry Office: (360) 293-6433 Cell: (360) 333-1496
Direct Line: (360) 416-1466 Fax: (360) 293-1899
rrowe@co.skagit.wa.us
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