PORT TOWNSEND — Bone-chilling winds blasting off Port Townsend Bay on Thursday failed to hamper the launch of the new electronic ferry ticket system on the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
“I think we expected more hiccups than we’ve had,” said Jayne Davis, Washington State Ferries north region operations manager, who was braving the winds to pass out Wave2Go electronic-ticketing information to auto passengers passing through the terminal tollbooths in Port Townsend.
She said the only thing to change is that the multi-ride car and driver convenience card can only be used for one car per sailing.
Some passengers balked at that rule, she said.
The rule is intended to boost revenue for the ferry system, she said.
Multi-ride tickets are good for 20 one-way trips for autos, or 10 round trips for passengers.
Passengers approved of the round-trip pass that now exists under the new system, said Susan Harris, ferry system communications manager.
She watched the Thursday pilot program launch on both the Keystone and Port Townsend sides of the run, providing passengers with information about the new system.
Perhaps the highest hope of the electronic-ticketing project, which is being tested in Port Townsend and Keystone for the entire ferry system, is that passengers will buy their tickets online at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries, clicking on the Wave2Go icon.
“The more people show up with a ticket in hand, the faster they will get through the line,” said Davis.
Passengers will be able to buy tickets using their home computers. However, online sales for February ended Wednesday.
Ferry riders can still purchase a pass at retail locations designated on the ferry Web site through Feb. 4.
Monthly passes for the Port Townsend-Keystone and central Sound runs can be purchased at Quimper Sound, 910 Water St., in downtown Port Townsend.