Washington State Ferries (WSF) has scheduled an open house for riders’ input for proposed schedule changes on the Southworth/Vashon/Fauntleroy triangle route.

The meeting is 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at Harper Church, 10384 SE Sedgwick Rd.

According to Rex Nelson, Southworth Ferry Advisory Committee chair, WSF is in the process of trying to rewrite the schedule for the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth triangle run.

“Under the guise of having a second, larger Issaquah class boat, they propose increasing the interval between trips, and having fewer trips,” Nelson said. “It will particularly affect commuting hour trips.”

The open house is to gather rider input for proposed schedule changes on the triangle route.

“It would be helpful to get as many riders as possible out to the open house, since the changes will affect everyone on the route,” Nelson said.

He said a year from now the triangle route will be regularly assigned a second Issaquah-class boat, nominally increasing the capacity.

“Under the guise of improving schedule reliability, they are proposing to increase the interval between sailings, and have fewer sailings, and claim auto capacity will be the same as today,” Nelson said. “The problem for most riders is that it will reduce commuter hour trips and impact those needed to get to jobs.”

Nelson said there is more service than needed in the midday, but more service is need during the rush hour.

He said changes would effect people working in Seattle and Vashon residents dependent on the ferries during the rush hour.

“The reality is to drive to Seattle is 60 miles one way — that is 600 miles a week on a car,” Nelson said.

Nelson noted the WSF’s Triangle Schedule Rewrite Committee has been meeting all year.

“As the Southworth FAC chair, I have been involved in this process from the beginning,” he said. “We need all the public participation we can get.”

Nelson can be reached at 360-731-8448 or at rexnelson@yahoo.com.