Three public meetings are scheduled next week to gain comments on proposals to possibly move, improve or replace the Mukilteo ferry terminal.
The Department of Transportation Ferries Division is studying options to address issues facing the terminal, which is deteriorating, facing increasing congestion and suffering from pedestrian access issues. The existing terminal needs extensive repairs to operate safely and effeciently.
The Mukilteo / Clinton route is the ferry system’s second busiest route for vehicle traffic and has the third largest annual ridership, serving 4 million riders in 2009. The numbers of passage is expected to increase by 73 percent by 2030.
A new terminal would improve safety and make it easier for ferry passengers to access trains and buses.
The ferry system is considering possible locations for the new terminal, which include the existing Mukilteo terminal site and other locations in Mukilteo, Edmonds and Everett.
Public meetings take place Oct. 12, 13, and 14 and residents will be able to:
• Learn about the goals and needs for the project.
• Review the options that WSF is considering.
• Identify potential issues and concerns for WSF to study in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
• Provide comments that ferry staff will review and incorporate in the formal record.
The Mukilteo terminal project was put on hold in 2007 due to funding and constructability issues. After finalizing its long-range plan in 2009, Washington State Ferries restarted the environmental review of the project and is evaluating a new range of concepts.
The meetings take place:
Whidbey Island: 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 12, South Whidbey High School, 5675, S. Maxwelton Rd., Langley.
Mukilteo: At 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 13, Mukilteo City Hall, 11930 Cyrus Way, Mukilteo.
Online: 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 14. Washington State Ferries will host an online open house. Participants can log in at any point during the meeting, review materials and ask questions in real time. Register at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/ferries/mukilteoterminal/multimodal.
