AHMS summer 2016 schedule open to public for review

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) 2016 summer schedule, which looks to improve ferry service to Alaskans, was released Tuesday for public review. 

The proposed schedule lasts from May 2016 until September 2016 and is available online through FerryAlaska.com. The review and comment period has been extended to accommodate more feedback. All comments and reviews must be submitted by November 3, 2015.

On November 4, 2015, at 10 a.m., there will be a teleconference to discuss all of the reviews and comments. While at the meeting in Ketchikan, officials will decide whether to make adjustments to the proposed schedule. The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Marine Engineering Facility at 7037 North Tongass Highway.

The new schedule, which is notably different compared to other summer schedules from the past, is designed to optimize ferry service for local Alaska residents while also observing the current operating budget that is reduced due to low oil prices. All of Alaska’s state agencies', such as the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, budgets are affected by the reduction.

The AMHS will also be shifting into a new system for reservations, which will be implemented during the summer 2016 schedule and be open for advanced bookings beginning December 2015.