Washington State Route 339

Infobox road
state=WA
type=SR
route=339
alternate_name=Seattle / Vashon Island PO ferry
maint=

---

direction_a=West
terminus_a=jct|state=WA|SR|160|city1=Vashon Heights ferry terminal
direction_b=East
terminus_b=jct|state=WA|SR|519|city1=Seattle Pier 50 ferry terminal
length_mi=9.8
length_ref=cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/travel_survey/2003/8.Seattle-Vashon+Transfers.pdf|title=Seattle-Vashon Passenger-Only Including Seattle-Southworth Travel|work=WSF 2003 South Sound Travel Survey Analysis and Results Report |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation|accessdate=2008-09-06]
system=King County Ferry District
established=1994
spur_type=SR
spur_of=3
previous_type=WA
previous_route=310
next_type=US
next_route=395

State Route 339 (SR 339) is a convert|8.5|nmi|mi|adj=on long highway in the U.S. state of Washington. It connects Vashon Island's Vashon Heights ferry terminal to downtown Seattle's Pier 50, via a passenger only ferry the "MV Kalama". The ferry is financed by the King County Ferry District (KCFD) and tolls collected at Pier 50. Despite being part of the KCFD, the ferry is operated by Washington State Ferries (WSF).cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules/current/index.cfm?route=sea-vapo|work=Summer 2008 Schedule|title=Seattle / Vashon PO|publisher=Washington State Ferries|accessdate=2008-09-06] SR 339 is one of only four ferry routes providing access to and from Vashon Island, and has the lowest annual average ridership of the four routes. The state of Washington took over the operation of the ferry route in 1951, and designated it SR 339 in 1994.

Route descripion

The entire route of SR 339 is in Puget Sound and is served by the "MV Kalama". The passenger-only ferry starts out from the Vashon Heights ferry terminal on Vashon Island and heads in a northerly direction, passing Blake Island State Park on the west. It briefly sails into Kitsap County before the route turns east and passes the Alki Point Light and Alki Point before entering Elliott Bay, and docking at WSF's Pier 50, just south of Colman Dock, where the rest of the WSF operated ferries dock in Seattle.cite map|url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=coleman+dock+,+wa&ie=UTF8&ll=47.563091,-122.394562&spn=0.163093,0.497131&z=11|title=SR 339 Overview|publisher=Google Maps|cartography=NAVTEQ|accessdate=2008-09-06] [cite map|publisher=Rand McNally|title=The Road Atlas|year=2009|inset=Seattle / Tacoma & Vicinity|scale=1 in ≈ 5 km|page=110|section=G5–E8|isbn=9780528942013]

Traveling at a top speed of convert|25|kn|mph,cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/your_wsf/our_fleet/index.cfm?vessel_id=82|title=M/V Kalama|work=Vessel Information|publisher=Washington State Ferries|accessdate=2008-09-06] the "MV Kalama" makes the crossing in about 35 minutes. There are currently three crossings each direction Monday–Friday, and no service on Saturday or Sunday.

History

Ferries have provided transportation to and from Vashon Island since the days of the Seattle Mosquito Fleet, but the state government took over the operation of the Vashon Island ferry on June 1, 1951.cite news|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20010601&slug=ferries01m|title=Vashon Islanders symbolize love-hate relationship with ferries as they turn 50|last=Tu|first=Janet I.|date=2001-06-01|publisher=Seattle Times|accessdate=2008-09-07] The "MV Kalama" was built in 1989, and the highway was designated a ferry route in 1994.cite web|url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=47.17.571|title=47.17.571|date=1994|work=Revised Code of Washington|publisher=Washington State Legislature|accessdate=2008-09-07]

In 2003 the average daily ridership was 827 passengers per day, based on a five day week, compared to 1,015 passengers on average when the route operated on a six day schedule in 1999. This number has decreased in 2004, with an average of 529 passengers per day traveling on the ferry.cite web|url=http://psrc.org/publications/pubs/view/0605.htm|title=Regional View Newsletter|date=June 2005 |publisher=Puget Sound Regional Council|accessdate=2008-09-29] WSF operates and maintains the "MV Kalama" currently, but by July 2009 the KCFD will assume all responsibilities of the operation. Currently the route no longer receives state funding, and King County will be responsible for all costs of the route to be funded by property taxes.cite press release |title=King County Ferry District assumes cost of Vashon Island passenger-only service July 1 |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |date= 2008-06-26|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2008/06/king-county-ferry-district-assumes-cost.htm |accessdate=2008-09-06 ]

Vashon Island is only connected to the rest of the region via four different WSF ferries, three departing from the Vashon dock, the other departing from the Tahlequah dock on the south end of the island. SR 339 is currently the only passenger only ferry, the other three ferries are auto ferries.cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules/current/|title=WSF Sailing Schedule|date=Fall 2008|accessdate=2008-09-28]

Tolls

Tolls are currently only collected on trips departing Pier 50; return trips to Seattle are not charged. The current adult toll is $8.70, with bicycles assessed an additional $1.00 toll. Wave2Go is a prepaid toll system which allows commuters to purchase either 10 ride cards or monthly passes.cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/pdf/CurrentFares.pdf|title=Passenger and Vehicle Fares|date=2007-05-01|publisher=Washington State Ferries|accessdate=2008-09-11] The KCFD has stated that there will be no changes to the current toll structure.

Major intersections

The entire route is located in King County.

References