Kitsap Transit and Washington State Ferries have announced a significant increase in ferry services due to the anticipated large crowds for the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl championship parade scheduled for February 11. With city officials predicting as many as one million fans could gather in downtown Seattle, transportation agencies are taking steps to accommodate the influx of spectators.
Kitsap Transit will provide additional one-way services into Seattle from Bremerton on Wednesday morning, deploying three vessels with a capacity of 118 passengers each. These ferries will operate at 7:00, 8:15, 9:30, and 10:45 AM, supplementing the regular schedule. The Kingston fast ferry service, utilizing the MV Finest, will also increase its seating by adding crew members to accommodate a total of 324 riders per trip. Additionally, the Southworth route will operate with a larger vessel capable of holding 250 passengers.
Washington State Ferries (WSF) also announced enhancements to their fleet, transitioning to a two-boat service from Bremerton for the parade, an upgrade from the standard one-boat weekday schedule. The Chimacum and Sealth ferries will serve this route, significantly boosting passenger capacity compared to initial expectations, as they take over the service while the Sealth switches from the Mulkilteo-Clinton route.
The Triangle Route service from Southworth to Vashon and Fauntleroy will see further improvements with three boats operating, including the Salish, in addition to the Cathlamet and Kittitas. WSF representatives have warned of potentially long wait times at terminals, especially at Colman Dock, where they expect capacity to be reached with 1,500 to 1,800 passengers per sailing throughout the day.
To manage the expected surge of attendees, residents are encouraged to use public transit options and avoid bringing vehicles into downtown Seattle. Bus services operated by Seattle Metro and Sound Transit’s train connections are available to help ferry riders reach the parade route. Kitsap Transit is also recommending that people leave their cars at home due to anticipated parking shortages, providing park-and-ride options to facilitate access to ferry terminals.
The parade kicks off at 11 AM, following a trophy celebration at Lumen Field at 10 AM, and the route will stretch from the stadium to Seattle Center, lasting about two hours. The previous Super Bowl parade in 2014 saw massive turnout, resulting in long lines at ferry terminals as thousands sought to celebrate the Seahawks’ victory. With the preparations ongoing, both transit authorities are making every effort to ensure that fans can enjoy the momentous event.