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Guemes ferry to be hauled out March 15–April 29; residents urge city coordination on parking and communications
Summary
The Anacortes City Council heard announcements that the Guemes Island car ferry will be out of service for about six weeks starting March 15, with passenger-only service and Skagit Transit shuttle support. Guemes residents told council they want improved communication and parking management during the haul-out.
The Guemes Island car ferry will be out of service from March 15 through April 29 while it is dry-docked for maintenance, Anacortes officials said at the March 10 City Council meeting. Passenger-only ferry service will run on the non-peak schedule; reservations will not be accepted. Skagit Transit will provide a free, call-in shuttle on the Guemes side; riders should call Skagit Transit dispatch at (360) 757-4433, option 2, at least one hour before a requested pickup.
The announcement drew public comments from island residents who urged closer coordination between the city and ferry users to reduce neighborhood parking impacts and improve information flow. Alan Bush, a Guemes Island resident, told the council the island community is “pretty much tied to Anacortes” and asked the city to establish a line of communication for ferry and terminal projects. Gabe Murphy, another island resident, said the community “want[s] to be in collaboration” to limit downtown impacts during the haul-out.
Councilmembers said staff and the city will try to improve near-term communication and parking management. Councilmember Walters said the city has already received concerns from neighborhood residents about parking during the haul-out and encouraged immediate interaction between island ferry users and Public Works staff to address short-term parking pressures. Walters noted that county cooperation on parking had changed this year and advised residents to provide contact information to the city clerk so staff can follow up.
The council’s announcement also listed two free Guemes freight parking lots in Anacortes and one on Guemes Island, plus permitted street parking in Anacortes (many spaces are 72-hour). Residents were asked to observe posted parking limits. The city will not be able to discuss terminal improvement project details in this forum because that work will proceed under a quasi-judicial permit process, council members said.
Council staff and island residents agreed to exchange contact information so Public Works can help manage parking and neighborhood impacts while the haul-out is under way. No formal council action was taken at the meeting; staff said they will reach out to the commenters and coordinate immediate parking outreach.
For rider planning: the haul-out runs March 15–April 29; passenger-only schedules and the Skagit Transit call-in shuttle are in effect.
