Holiday traffic called “a nightmare”

McKeown, who represents the city’s west end, was describing the traffic along 12th St. between downtown Anacortes and the state ferry landing last Thursday evening. Traffic was backed nearly all the way from the ferry terminal to Safeway.

Police Chief Bonnie Bowers told Anacortes Now that she had a call from an officer who asked her “What do I do?” She said her answer was to point drivers to motels. The ferries were full, the ferry parking lots were full and more drivers kept heading out to the west end.

Mayor Dean Maxwell told the Council that the ferry system just wasn’t able to add service this July Fourth holiday weekend. He said “The ball got dropped in somebody’s court,” noting that 12th is a state highway. He said “This was the most traffic I’ve ever seen.”

McKeown said some ferry communities hold ferry traffic outside town to make travel easier on city residents. He also said, “I’d like to have hundreds of cars closer to our merchants.” Council member Nick Petrish said he noted more tourists in downtown Anacortes over the weekend, something he called “A plus side” to the traffic mess.

Council member Cynthia Richardson urged west end residents to study maps so they can learn alternative routes between the west end and downtown Anacortes. The Mayor said he will work on making things smoother next year.