Expanded Parking At Guemes Ferry Landing

According to Steve Flude, Assistant Director Skagit County Public Works:

After considering the comments received, the existing waiting room [on Guemes Island] will remain in place as an auxiliary shelter and a place for the existing bulletin board and “chalk board” for announcing community events.
 
The new structure in the existing parking lot will be a 7’ X 20’ bus shelter with safety glass panels and bench seating. This will be ADA accessible from the north side and have skirting to protect waiting passengers from wind. The second structure will be the existing ADA accessible porta-potty. At the request of the Guemes Island Ferry Committee the 8’ X 20’ portable building will not be installed.
 
The reader board installation is a planned addition to the ferry system to improve the communication with our customer base. The reader board will alert passengers to any change in service as well as when the next ferry will arrive. It will be used to communicate, as an example, when we have low tides that restrict certain vehicles as well as when we plan to have school specials and vessel haul outs. Additionally, the reader board will provide a count down clock to show when next ferry will be leaving Anacortes. The reader board will be turned off after the last run at night.
 
The existing parking lot will be expanded through the purchase of two adjacent lots located to the north of the existing parking lot. One parcel has been purchased and demolition of the existing structures commenced on June 25, 2004. The purchase of the additional parcel is in progress. This expansion is planned to encourage walk on passenger in accordance with our Capital Facilities Plan. One commenter requested information concerning restricting access to the existing boat ramp. The boat ramp access will not be restricted by the accesses to the expanded parking lot. An area will be marked in the existing parking lot after the additional area to the north of the existing lot is added to the parking lot. The marked area will allow access to the boat ramp.
 
The construction of the parking lot on Guemes Island will be delayed until after Labor Day to minimize the disruption of the summer traffic coming and going to Guemes Island. The two houses north of the existing parking lot will be demolished, and the lots leveled with gravel. This will provide additional parking and allow some vehicles to park while the now existing lot is paved. The existing lot will be combined with the two lots being purchased to provide one larger parking area. In the future, the parking lot will be paved. The paving will also include a bio-swale and oil water separator. To provide safe access to and from this lot, lighting will be provided. The lighting will be shaded to limit glare and to minimize any interference with views. The lot will be enclosed with fencing and plant material will be used to blend with the surrounding properties.
 
As a note for some commenters, the parking lot construction on the Anacortes side will commence in July to be complete sometime prior to September. The new lot on the Anacortes side will have parking for approximately seventy vehicles.
 
The existing drainage along side Guemes Island Road will remain in place.