Woah, whoa, whoa your boat — Seattle’s big ferry terminal revamp at Colman Dock is pretty much all done. Its shiny new entry building on Alaskan Way is set to open on Thursday, Aug. 3, along with an elevated pedestrian connector and other amenities.
In late 2022, Washington State Ferries debuted a refreshed Seattle passenger facility for the station that runs ~9 million trips annually from Seattle to Kitsap County. These latest additions put the finishing touches on the six-year, $489 million construction project.
Let’s run through a few of the ferry fine details.
Out with the old
Those who remember the old terminal probably don’t miss it much. The space was a bit difficult to navigate and situated on a rickety pier. Now, pedestrians traverse a wide walkway on the dock that’s been reinforced by steel.
Passengers get to enjoy some sweet views of the Puget Sound as they enter (an instant Instagram photo op, of course). There are new ticket + info booths, and you can grab a snack at one of the kiosks on your way to the ferry. Keep an eye on the two, 1,400 sqft street level retail spaces formerly occupied by fast food restaurants — they’re ready to be leased.
Floating a few numbers
Overall, the new terminal has:
- 20,026 sqft of space and room for 1,900 riders
- 4,230 sqft of windows bringing in more natural light
- 362 seats — three times the previous building’s capacity
- 185 additional holding spaces for vehicles
While the major construction on the facility itself is finished, work will continue on a few surrounding elements, including the new Marion Street Pedestrian Bridge that’s due to open this fall. It’s all part of the massive Waterfront overhaul — stay tuned.
