The Washington State Department of Transportation ferries division sent a response last week to District 26 State Rep. Jan Angel’s letter concerning her disappointment of the October “open house” meeting on the Southworth/Vashon/Fauntleroy ferry routes.

David Moseley, Washington State Department of Transportation assistant secretary of the ferries division, sent a letter dated Nov. 20 to Angel offering apologies that the room size was “inadequate.”

In the letter, Moseley said he has been assured a larger area for the December community meeting. Feedback from that open house will be shared and used to determine the next step in the process on proposed changes to the routes.

The meeting is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at Harper Church, 10384 SE Sedgwick Rd.

He said WSF received more than 350 comments or surveys from the open house and online.

“I want to assure you that WSF and the Schedule Steering Committee will fully consider the potential impacts of ferry customers of any revision to the triangle schedule,” Moseley said.

He said the 87-car Evergreen State class ferry will be replaced with a 124-car Issaquah class ferry in the fall.

“This provides us an opportunity to improve customer service and review the complicated triangle schedule while maintaining or increasing capacity,” Moseley said. “We are in the process of reviewing this information with our steering committee.”

The letter also was sent to Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido and District 26 State Rep. Larry Seaquist (D-Gig Harbor).

Angel (R-Port Orchard) said in her letter that South Kitsap residents who use the ferries would be affected by the changes proposed and that residents didn’t feel they are being allowed to be part of the process.

Rex Nelson, chair of the Southworth Ferry Advisory Committee, said no schedule will work well until there is some resolution of loading and unloading problems.

He said more Southworth riders are asking for more direct sailings.

State law directs WSF to work with Ferry Advisory Committees to develop ferry schedules, resolve customer problems and understand regional issues. Twice annually, WSF hosts a series of community meetings throughout our service area to discuss current ferry system issues.