Washington State FerriesFeb. 13, 2017

Triangle Improvement Task Force

Agenda & Meeting ObjectivesAgenda• Welcome• Approve documents• Lesson learned• Task force constraints• A day at Fauntleroy• Quick win criteria and priorities• Next steps

Objectives• Approve charter• Learn about past efforts• Understand constraints• Understand operations at Fauntleroy• Prioritize “quick wins”

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Recap• Action items• Meeting notes• Approve charter

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Lessons LearnedWhat has WSF tried to fix the Triangle?

• 2016 Bypass laneDynamic signsRestriped Vashon dock

• 2015 Summer weekend schedule• 2013 Explored schedules options• 1990s Explored dock improvement

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Success storyIn 2011, funding cuts removed traffic officer on Fauntleroy Way. By working together for several years, ferry riders, the Fauntleroy community, and WSF, successfully worked to restore funding for the police officer during commute times. It’s made a big difference for safety and efficiency.

Lessons Learned: The Bypass• Standard practice until 2008• Stopped practice for several reasons:

– Safety– Staffing– Technology

• 2016 rollout failed for several reasons:– Incomplete research– Poor internal communication– Safety concerns

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Constraints• Time• Money• Vessels• Dock• Labor

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A day at Fauntleroy: Vehicles

Perfect day

4,553 vehicles transported

Realistic day

2,500 vehicles transported

Why the difference?

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A day at Fauntleroy: DemandPerfect day

Realistic day

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Capacity Demand

A day at Fauntleroy: The DockPerfect dayTraffic flows smoothly through dock within time constraints

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A day at Fauntleroy: The DockRealistic daySeveral issues affect traffic flow

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Staging

A day at Fauntleroy: The DockRealistic day: Dock staging

• The dock holds approximately 80 vehicles.• Issaquah class vessels hold approximately 124 vehicles• Loading from the dock is quick: About 20 cars/min

• Once dock is cleared, it’s a different story…

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A day at Fauntleroy: The DockRealistic day: Tollbooth

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Tollbooth

A day at Fauntleroy: The DockRealistic day: Tollbooth• All transactions take time• Motorcycles, carpools, vanpools in

exit lane• 3 cars per min is average speed

loading from tollbooth to ferry

• Sometimes tollbooths are empty during peak times…

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A day at Fauntleroy: The DockRealistic day: Upstream traffic

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Upstream Traffic

A day at Fauntleroy: The DockRealistic day: Upstream traffic• Mix of destinations• Single sailings get stuck more• Traffic cop/splitter has limited impact• Single destination “plug” means

vehicles can’t reach tollbooth• Heavy traffic delays unloading

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A day at Fauntleroy: TimeLoading and unloading the ferry takes time

• Dock 1 min• Unload 4 min• Security sweep 4 min• Load (dock) 4 min• Load (tollbooth) 2 min• Undock 1 min

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Dock6%

Unload25%

Security Sweep25%

Load (dock)25%

Load (from tollbooth)

13%

Undock6%

PERFECT TIME: 16 MIN

A day at Fauntleroy: TimeLoading and unloading the ferry takes time

• Dock 1 min• Unload 4 min• Security sweep 4 min• Load (dock) 4 min• Load (tollbooth) 15 min• Undock 1 min

Choke points upstream slow loading…

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Dock4% Unload

14%

Security Sweep14%

Load (dock)14%

Load (tollbooth)

51%

Undock3%

REALISTIC TIME: 29 MIN

A day at Fauntleroy: TimeLoading and unloading the ferry takes time

• Dock 1 min• Unload 1 min• Security sweep 1 min• Load (dock) 3 min• Load (tollbooth) 9 min• Undock 1 min

Choke points upstream slow loading…WSF saves time in unloading & security sweep…

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Dock6% Unload

6% Security Sweep

6%

Load (dock)21%Load

(tollbooth)55%

Undock6%

OBSERVED TIME: 16 MIN

A day at Fauntleroy: Time

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0:20

0:12

0:17

0:20 0:20

0:150:17

0:15 0:15

0:10

16:00 16:20 16:45 17:10 17:45 18:05 18:35 19:05 19:30 20:05

Fauntleroy PM Peak DwellRealistic load/unload time: 28 min

Observed load/unload time: 16 min

Dual destination Single destination

A day at Fauntleroy: ConclusionSo what explains the performance difference between the perfect day and an actual day?

• Constraints!– Traffic patterns– Insufficient dock space– Mixed traffic; 2 tollbooths– Slow load rate from tollbooth– Unloading delays

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SS

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V VV

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VV

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Tollbooth & splitter

Dock capacity

Upstream traffic

A day at Fauntleroy: ConclusionNext steps to consider

• This is one of 3 destinations• Delays at Fauntleroy cause delays at

other destinations (and later back at Fauntleroy)

• Delays at single slip terminals delay the next scheduled vessel

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BREAK

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What makes a “quick win?”What are the “must have” criteria?

• Does not violate constraints• Can be done in time for summer• Likely to have positive effect• Measurable?

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Setting prioritiesPrioritize ideas based on your understanding of the following:

• Overall constraints• Constraints at Fauntleroy• How well idea meets criteria

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Closing• Next steps• Review objectives• Action items• Questions?

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