Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ferries topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council warns of ferry service strains after Mosquito Fleet bill fails and reservation project is delayed
Summary
Council members said the Mosquito Fleet Act did not pass this session, that state funding for vessel replacements is limited, and reported the Washington State Ferries reservation-system contract was canceled — delaying a promised 2025 pilot and prompting calls for county and regional contingency planning.
San Juan County councilors spent substantial time on ferry-service issues after a challenging legislative session and fresh reports that a proposed reservation system pilot has been canceled.
Council members said the legislature restricted ferry funding to a smaller number of vessel replacements than the county had sought and that the Mosquito Fleet Act — a local-option bill to fund passenger-only alternatives — failed to pass this session. One council member described formation of a county ferry caucus made up of elected officials from 13 counties to pursue local passenger-only options and stronger regional advocacy.
Council members also reported that a promised Washington State Ferries reservation-system pilot (originally scheduled for May 2025 on a simple route) had been canceled: the contractor was terminated and implementation was delayed, possibly until 2028. Council members said the project had accumulated approximately $700,000 in spending to date, with perhaps $340,000–$400,000 of that material still usable, leaving an uncertain sunk cost — figures that staff and FAC representatives described as preliminary and subject to audit.
The council urged more direct, local engagement with legislators (including inviting LD 40 representatives for site visits), noted the formation and monthly meetings of the county ferry caucus, and discussed pursuing alternative, locally controlled passenger services to reduce dependence on Washington State Ferries. Members also raised concerns that service disruptions will likely continue in the near term and that state planning documents (cited by staff) may be optimistic about future fleet capacity.
Council requested that ferry advisory committee members and staff continue to press for transparency from Washington State Ferries about project cancellations, timelines and costs and to return with a prioritized strategy for advocacy and contingency planning.
