The state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities announced Tuesday a proposed ferry schedule for the coming summer.
The schedule patterns being proposed for the Alaska Marine Highway System would cover sailings from May through September. The schedule is based on expected funding levels for the 2018 fiscal year. It would feature an overall 10-week service reduction to operations, down to around 325 operating weeks.
“It’s pretty consistent,” explained Jeremy Woodrow, public information officer for ADOTP&F.
Service to Wrangell would essentially remain unchanged. For the month of May through the 24th, a total of six stops would be made each week by the Matanuska and Columbia. Southbound journeys headed as far as Prince Rupert, British Columbia, would make stops Monday afternoons and midday on Fridays. Heading as far south as Bellingham, Washington, the Columbia would pass through on Wednesday mornings. Northward and Skagway-bound, the two ferries would make stops Wednesday mornings, Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons.
For the duration of the summer after May 24, Wrangell would continue to be serviced by the Columbia and Matanuska with the same frequency. Southbound, the Matanuska would stop onThursdays just before noon and Sunday afternoons. The Columbia would stop in Wednesday mornings, returning for the northbound leg of its weekly journey Sunday afternoons. The Matanuska would make its northbound stops Tuesday mornings and Friday nights.
The proposed schedule also contains a list of summertime community events for AMHS to consider in its scheduling, such as Petersburg’s Little Norway Festival from May 18 to 21. Currently Wrangell has no events listed on the schedule, last revised in September.
The full schedule pattern being proposed is available for review at the AMHS homepage at http://www.FerryAlaska.com, or throughdot.alaska.gov/amhs/share/schedule/considerations.pdf.
The department is accepting written comments and suggestions before October 24, either emailed to dot.amhs.comments@alaska.gov or faxed to 907-228-6874. A teleconference to hear comments has been set for October 27 at 10 a.m. for Southeast schedules. For those wishing to attend in person, the meeting will be held in Ketchikan at the Alaska Marine Highway Central Office.
To participate in the teleconference call 1-800-315-6338, entering in the conference code 03902#.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 249 airports, 11 ferries serving 35 communities, 5,619 miles of highway and 720 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.
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