Washington State Ferries’ central Puget Sound routes will temporarily move to a reduced service plan as part of the state’s response to COVID-19.

The reductions will start on Sunday, March 29, and remain in place through at least April 25.

Sailings on the Seattle/Bainbridge and Seattle/Bremerton routes are being reduced by about half. The “Triangle” route – Fauntleroy/Vashon, Fauntleroy/Southworth, and Southworth/Vashon – will move to a two-boat schedule, which reduces sailings by about one-third.

Some daily crossings on the triangle route are also suspended, including the 1:25 a.m. sailing from Vashon to Fauntleroy, the 1:45 a.m. sailing from Southworth to Fauntleroy, the 2:20 a.m. sailing from Fauntleroy to Vashon, and the 2:45 a.m. sailing from Vashon to Southworth

The latest service reductions and an earlier announced extension of the winter sailing schedule are in response to the ongoing effects of COVID-19 disrupting service, according to a press release, due to a continued decrease in ridership and availability of sufficient crew personnel to meet federal requirements.

As of March 26, system-wide ridership was down about 60% compared to the last week of February according to a press release. Walk-on passengers have decreased by more than 80%, while the number of vehicles carried has dropped by nearly 50%.

Customers can sign up for email rider alerts, check WSF COVID-19 travel updates and follow WSF on Twitter and Facebook for notification of resumption of regular service and other rider information.

Emergency medical services have been notified of the schedule changes and will continue to have priority boarding as the situation allows.