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Ferry‑dependent communities press Senate for water‑taxi funding and vessel staffing; FAC study draws criticism
Summary
Island residents, ferry advisory committee members, and local governments urged the Senate Transportation Committee to retain funding for midday water‑taxi service, restore ferry staffing, and preserve winter service enhancements for ferry routes.
Public testimony at the March 25 hearing repeatedly focused on Washington State Ferries and interim services such as the King County water taxi that supplement the state system.
Island residents and local officials said they rely on the midday water taxi and asked the committee to retain funding in the transportation budget that would maintain and expand that service. Amy Dreyer of Vashon Islanders for Ferry Action said Washington State Ferries "walked back" a restoration promise and that Vashon and the Triangle Route should not expect restored three‑ferry service this summer. "The water taxi mitigates the ferry scribe, so this is the worst possible time to cut back a service that helps so many people," testified Rick Wallace, a Vashon resident.
King County and local elected officials urged the Senate to match House investments and to continue transitional funding already used to preserve service. Michelle Luhan on behalf of King County said the county "strongly urge[s] continuation of the current additional service to Vashon," calling the water taxi critical for health care and work trips.
Several ferry advisory committee members and stakeholders objected to a proposed $75,000 contract for a study of ferry advisory committees by the Evans School. Tom Tiersch, chair of the Port Townsend Ferry Advisory Committee, told the committee the study is unnecessary: FACs are volunteer bodies with statutory roles and he urged the committee to require Washington State Ferries to meet its statutory obligations and work collaboratively with FACs instead of commissioning the study. Other FAC members and testifiers urged that the study scope include how riders and communities can more effectively participate and recommended involvement from passenger vessel experts if the study proceeds.
San Juan County, Kitsap County, and other ferry‑served jurisdictions thanked the committee for targeted investments the Senate proposal includes—winter service enhancements, vessel staffing, reservation‑system improvements, and maintenance appropriations—and urged those items be preserved in any final budget.
No committee action was taken on ferry items during the hearing; testifiers asked the committee to restore or maintain funding during the amendment and conference process.
