Advance notice that Mukilteo/Clinton and Edmonds/Kingston service will be cut in half each weekend in July:

Mukilteo/Clinton and Edmonds/Kingston on 1-Boat Service Each Weekend in July

“Because of a shortage of available crew during the COVID-19 pandemic, service on the Mukilteo/Clinton and Edmonds/Kingston routes must be reduced to one boat on weekends during the month of July. The affected dates include: July 4-5; July 11-12; July 18-19; and July 25-26. On those four weekends, the #1 boat will be the only boat in service.”

3 Hour Wait Times:

June 20, 2020 The Everett Herald

Expect long ferry lines due to crew shortage from COVID-19

“Mukilteo and Edmonds routes will have reduced boat service. Saturday’s wait was 3 hours from Clinton.”

“Ian Sterling, Washington State Ferries spokesman, said a combination of aging workers, vessel maintenance and funding led to the need to limit service.”

We are down 100 to 150 workers just because they are in the high-risk category,” Sterling said. “Previous cuts over the years have us down to where we are a skeleton crew. We are really challenged right now.”

“The Mukilteo-Clinton route was reduced to one boat on Saturday and Sunday. Normally two ferries cross the water with service every half hour from each dock for the 20-minute voyage.”

 

June 30, 2020 KIRO7 News Video:

Ferry wait times spike following staff shortages

Some (employees) are in that high-risk category, either by age, or whether by underlying health conditions, or both, so we want to keep them safe,” Sterling told KIRO 7 News.”

“The wait is pretty awful. Pretty awful. So it makes you resentful of the people coming over who are tourists,” said Don Lane, a resident of Whidbey Island. “As things open up in phases, it just gets worse and worse and worse.”

The High-Risk Category

Would it make sense to have age/physical standards requirements in hiring? The US Armed Forces are one example of where these requirements are in place.

 

UPS

UPS Hours of Operation: Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

 

Central Planning

Washington State Ferries is maintaining weekday schedules and reducing service on weekends when fewer people are traveling for essential purposes.

 

Mixed Messages/Opening Back Up

May 18, 2020 KING5 News Video

Casinos in western Washington reopen to big crowds

 

Jun 19, 2020 WhidbeyCamanoIslands
@GoWhidbeyCamano

Whidbey and Camano Islands have received approval to move into Phase III of Governor Inslee’s “Safe Start” phased approach. Business services and activities listed in Phase 3 of the Safe Start plan are now permitted, if guidelines and safety measures are implemented.”

 

More here:

Not a one size fits all society

Restricted Activities Update

Port Angeles – Stay in your homes and wait for further instructions.

Stay-at-home, except when purchasing liquor up until 9 p.m.

Concealed Carry Processing Suspended

 

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Photo- Extinct ferry at Kingston