New ferry terminal at Colman Dock now open for walk-on passengers

The new ferry terminal building at Seattle’s Colman Dock is now open for walk-on passengers.

The big changes happened Sunday.

Washington State Ferries moved all ticketing and walk-on operations out of the existing terminal building at Colman Dock and into the first section of the new terminal building to the south.

“It’s a balancing act moving people and operations to a new building while keeping the ferry schedule unchanged,” said Director of Terminal Engineering David Sowers.

For passengers headed to the dock in a vehicle, or on a bike or motorcycle, things will remain the same.

WSF has outlined what walk-on passengers can expect:

When to arrive: Passengers should plan to arrive no more than 15 minutes before departure to avoid standing in line for long periods of time. Check the website for the latest information before arriving at the terminal.
Terminal access: Walk-on customers have several options to enter and exit the new building:
Stairs on Alaskan Way near Columbia Street connecting the street to the terminal level.
A pedestrian bridge between Colman Dock and the Marion Street Bridge on a new route along Columbia Street and Western Avenue.
Stairs at the southwest corner of the dock near the new passenger-only ferry dock at Pier 50.
ADA access remains via the elevators on Alaskan Way near the entrance to the old terminal
New holding area for walk-on passengers: A new, enclosed walkway connects the temporary Marion Street Bridge to the terminal. During busy times, customers will line up and wait in the walkway, which is 24-feet wide with separate queues for Bainbridge and Bremerton passengers.
Purchasing tickets: To save time, customers are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time online. A staffed ticket booth and self-serve kiosks are located in the new terminal.
“We’re asking passengers to be patient through this move as we work to rebuild Colman Dock as quickly as possible,” Sowers said.

In 2017, WSF started work to replace the terminal. The building is now closed and will be demolished soon.

When complete, contractor crews will connect the two sections to complete the new terminal that serves both the Seattle/Bainbridge and Seattle/Bremerton ferry routes.