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Sponsor and maritime industry push Mosquito Fleet Act as island and port leaders urge urgency; orca advocates call for safeguards
Summary
At a lengthy Senate Transportation public hearing, Representative Craig Nance and dozens of local officials, shipbuilders and unions urged passage of the Mosquito Fleet Act to let communities create passenger‑only ferry districts. Environmental witnesses asked for permitting and mitigation to protect southern resident orcas.
Representative Craig Nance, the bill’s prime sponsor, told the Senate Transportation Committee that the Mosquito Fleet Act would give local governments “another tool” to restore access, create jobs and provide relief to Washington State Ferries while the statewide fleet is rebuilt. “To me, this bill is about parity, and it’s about, solving problems locally,” Nance said, describing service disruptions that have left island communities without reliable transportation.
Clint McCarthy, committee staff, summarized the proposal as a local option allowing ports, transit agencies, county transportation authorities and others to form passenger‑only ferry districts with funding options including up to 0.3 percent sales tax, advertising and parking revenues. McCarthy’s fiscal briefing said the Department of Revenue anticipates near‑term…
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