Over-taxed ferry terminal has advantages, major challenges
Jun 2, 2016, 5:23 AM | Updated: 9:00 am
Passengers on the busiest ferry route for vehicle traffic just ran through another jammed-up Memorial Day weekend, but riders from Mukilteo won’t have to deal with the over-taxed terminal much longer.
The city’s long-anticipated new terminal, about a half mile north of the old one, is still on schedule to open in 2019. Construction is set to begin later this year.
Chris Stearns, a structural engineer with the state ferry system, says it’s going to be nothing like the current one.
“The whole look of it,” he said. “The holding lanes will be oriented in a different direction….”
And it’s going to be much more efficient and user-friendly. New features will include a dedicated passenger ramp so walk-ons won’t have to jockey with cars like they do today. It will also be much closer to the Sounder station, allowing an easier walk from train to ferry.
But Stearns says this spot also has major challenges, at least for those designing the terminal. That’s because it is being built on a severe slope. The water gets really deep, really quick.
“We have this kind of challenge, putting in [structural supports] on a very severe slope, which creates a challenge of seismic design,” Stearns said. “And, also, kind of create some problems like when you’re looking at when the soil might liquefy and slide down the hill and create all kinds of other problems.”
But that severe slope also has its advantages. Stearns says they won’t have to go very far out for the ferries to get their clearance.
“The ground line does plunge so quickly, you don’t have to have that much extra structure to go way out into the water for the boats to come in,” Stearns explained.
And Stearns says they’ve left room for future expansion, if needed.
The Mukilteo-Clinton run currently carries about 4 million passengers a year, making it the route with the second-highest annual ridership. It carries the most vehicle traffic, especially delivery trucks.
Walk-on ridership is expected to increase 124 percent between now and 2040.
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