Skagit County to switch Guemes Island Ferry to fully electronic ticketing March 19; vehicle ferry out for dry dock March 15–April 29

Skagit County Public Works announced a rollout of a fully electronic ticketing system for the Guemes Island Ferry the week of March 19, with on-site technical help at the Anacortes terminal during the initial days.

The new fares took effect Feb. 26 and the county will “roll out fully on the nineteenth,” Rachel Rowe, area operations division manager, said during a March 11 commissioners meeting presentation. Rowe said the county will staff a live help desk at the terminal March 19–21, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., to assist riders with app downloads, purchases and troubleshooting.

Why it matters: the vehicle ferry will be out of service for dry dock March 15–April 29. Beginning March 15 only walk-on passenger tickets, 25‑trip passenger multi-ride passes, bicycles and motorcycles will be sold; no vehicles will be accommodated while the vehicle ferry is unavailable. That change affects drivers who normally use the ferry for vehicle crossings during the dry-dock window.

Public Works and the vendor Anchor said riders can buy tickets three ways: the Guemes Island Ferry website, the Anchor mobile app (Apple and Android), or in person at the…