Whidbey Island will see the state’s newest ferry return to its route in March.

The ferry Tokitae is set to return to the Clinton-to-Mukilteo route March 22.

The date is also the start of state ferries’ spring schedule.

Currently, Clinton-Mukilteo service is handled by the Kittitas and Chelan, both Issaquah 130-class ferries with a maximum vehicle capacity of 124.

The Tokitae’s holds 144 cars.

“It’s the slower season of the year so we can handle the Clinton-Mukilteo traffic no problem,” said Susan Harris, a ferries spokeswoman.

Since late January, the Tokitae has served the Edmonds-to-Kingston route. Typically that run is handled by the Tacoma, a Jumbo Mark II-class vessel that holds up to 202 vehicles. The Tacoma was knocked out of service July 29 with 400 passengers stranded until tug boats took it to Bainbridge Island.

A design flaw was later blamed by ferry officials, and the Tacoma underwent repairs at the Eagle Harbor shipyard.

The Tokitae, which began transporting people last June, was slated to be pulled from service for work covered under warranty.

“It’s always been scheduled,” Harris said. “We have maintenance items we have to get done in a certain period of time.”

“It’s like a new car.”

Once the work was completed and the issues with the Tacoma arose, the Tokitae was rerouted to Edmonds-Kingston because of the larger volume of freight on the route.

Ferry lines in Clinton became longer than usual, according to business operators there.

Tanya Scriven, an employee at Southern Cross Espresso, at Commercial Street and Highway 525, said she saw long ferry lines starting in mid February.

“The lines have been crazy lately, and I’m always like, ‘Why is it so busy?’” she said.

At Cozy’s Roadhouse across the highway, bartender John Gerlach said he noticed longer lines during the late mornings on weekdays.

“I don’t know if that’s something that usually happens, but I don’t remember a couple years back seeing lines at 10, 11 o’clock,” he said.

“It’s not all the time. It’s just so unusual.”