Washington State Ferries is considering altering the Point Defiance-Tahlequah ferry schedule to better match up with bus schedules and increase on-time performance.

The current schedule compresses each round trip into less than an hour, and sometimes the ferry is unable to make such a tight turnaround, leading to departures that are delayed, said Alan Mendel, chair of Vashon’s Ferry Advisory Committee.

The proposed schedule, which would go into effect in the spring, would alter afternoon and evening schedules slightly, decompressing each round trip into an hour, he said.

Between 3:30 and 10:30 p.m., the ferry would depart from Point Defiance at half past the hour and from Tahlequah on the hour. The final sailing would be from Tahlequah at 10:55 p.m.

Mendel said he doubted riders on the south-end ferry would feel much impact from the schedule change but urged riders to contact him with their thoughts so he can deliver those opinions to WSF staff.

The Ferry Advisory Committee will discuss the proposed change at its next meeting on Dec. 14. Contact Mendel at AMMendel@comcast.net or 463-1453 for

more information or to comment on the proposed changes.