San Juan County Marine Transportation Services

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. September 17, 2024 – San Juan County is thrilled to receive new funding from the Washington State Governor’s Office to address ferry service disruptions in the San Juan Islands. Today, Governor Jay Inslee met County and Town officials, essential service providers, business owners, and residents in Friday Harbor to award $1 million to the County to finance temporary marine transportation alternatives, and an additional $500,000 to support Interisland weekend service during the winter which would add a third set of crew to that service.

“I feel speechless right now,” said Council Chair Jane Fuller after the Governor’s announcement.

“Our county has been heard at the highest level of our State when it comes to the ferry crisis we have been experiencing,” Fuller said to a room of about 20 locals representing healthcare, schools, utilities, and small businesses.

“Thank you, Governor Inslee, for all that you and your staff have done in recent weeks to acknowledge our emergency and identify a means through which the State can support our local problem-solving efforts to ensure essential services can continue to be delivered, and the impacts on the lives of the people in our county can be mitigated.”

Localized, Emergency Transportation Services

In August, Council issued a request to the Governor’s Office for ‘executive relief’ from ferry service disruptions, providing a 180-day proposal. Today, the County received $1 million from the Department of Commerce’s Emergency Rapid Response program to support three main initiatives:

• Interisland passenger only water taxi service
• Anacortes / San Juan Islands passenger only charter service
• On-call essential/critical services barge transportation

Funding from the Governor’s Office will support these three pilot initiatives on an interim and emergency basis.

“This will not make everything perfect in the islands, but I believe it will be a significant improvement,” Governor Inslee said.

Increased Interisland Service This Winter

Governor Inslee also authorized $500,000 from the Governor’s Emergency Fund to support increased weekend Interisland service during the winter. WSF believes this will not only provide increased service to residents, but also improve workforce availability and overall service levels by making it more possible for crews to live in the San Juan Islands year-round.

“I really couldn’t believe my ears when I heard you were going to put three crews on the interisland boat during the winter,” said Ferry Advisory Committee member Ken Burtness during the meeting. “It will help with the stability of crews on the Interisland and very much help the schedule for the boats out of Anacortes. This is the best news I’ve heard in five years.”

The WSF Anacortes / San Juan Islands Schedule-Rewrite Taskforce, established by WSF last May, will meet this week to further discuss the year-round ferry schedule to reflect the addition of a third crew on the interisland route. The updated schedule is expected to come into effect in December.

Next Steps

The County had an initial meeting with the WA State Department of Commerce yesterday to discuss how the emergency funds will be allocated and utilized. Further updates will be provided as plans are established.

The Council Chair is will soon be establishing an external Transportation Working Group comprised of representatives from Chambers, Ports, non-profits, and other local entities. This group will be tasked with identifying local solutions to transportation issues that can be explored by the County government, and in the context of updates to the Transportation element of the Comprehensive Plan.

“As WSF rebuilds itself, we look forward to supporting them and feel newly empowered to work collaboratively on localized solutions to transportation needs in the islands,” said Council Chair Fuller.

The Council is also working to develop a legislative ask for the upcoming legislative session that will address ways to mitigate the impacts of ferry service disruptions.

“We’re working tireless every day to solve these issues,” said Assistant Secretary of Transportation for WSF Steve Nevey. “I have empathy for all the issues you brought up today,” he said, addressing the room of business owners, volunteers, and local officials.

Council is very grateful for the Governor’s support demonstrated by granting this emergency funding request and funding longer term efforts to restore service on our interisland ferry route. The Council would also like to thank our 40th district legislators for their tireless dedication to improving the Washington State Ferry service for the future, securing essential funding for additional vessels and crew, and their ongoing collaboration and support to address the localized challenges we experience on the Anacortes / San Juan Islands route.

“The County deeply appreciates all of the consistent and ongoing attention that WSF, under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Nevey has been giving to ferry service on our route,” said Chair Fuller. “Our collaboration has been intense and meaningful, and it will continue. We will do all we can to support Assistant Secretary Nevey as he continues to guide WSF towards a successful future.”

The County would also like to recognize the tremendous work of the crew and staff who serve our Anacortes / San Juan Islands routes who can never be given enough appreciation for all that they do in service to the islands.

The County will release additional updates as they become available. Learn more about the County’s ferry advocacy efforts on the Engage page: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/san-juan-county-ferry-information. ;

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SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 26, 2024 – On Saturday, August 24, representatives from San Juan County met with Governor Jay Inslee in Friday Harbor to share data, review ferry service challenges, and discuss possible next steps. The Governor initiated the productive, 30-minute meeting that included Council Chair Jane Fuller, Health & Community Services Transportation Voucher Program Coordinator Richard Uri, County Manager Jessica Hudson, and Ferry Advisory Committee Vice Chair Ken Burtness. Town Councilmember Richard Gefffen and staff from Inslee’s Office were also in attendance.

“I was pleased that the Governor reached out to us with the intention of hearing our stories, digesting our data, and helping us form next steps to address challenges posed by ferry service disruptions,” said Chair Fuller. “I’m grateful for his time, attention, and support.”

The meeting included an in-depth discussion of local transportation alternatives that have developed as a result of unstable WSF services. From The Community Water Taxi to unique uses of the Transportation Voucher Program, innovative solutions are being developed locally to subsidize State services. Governor Inslee affirmed it is ‘worth looking at’ short term solutions that may help with the current ferry situation in the islands.

During the meeting, Council Chair Fuller reviewed the three components of the County’s executive relief ask:

• Interisland passenger only water taxi service $ 279,450.00
• Anacortes / San Juan Islands passenger only ferry service $ 659,295.00
• On-call essential/critical services barge transportation $ 56,925.00

The Governor reiterated the limitations on declaring a ‘state of emergency’ and allocating emergency funds that prevented the Office from fulfilling Council’s most recent request. He noted that he is willing to think broadly to find some options for short-term relief for the island routes.

The Governor is hopeful that some short-term relief will come via negotiations with the Marine Engineer Beneficial Association (MEBA) that are expected to conclude in September and may provide stability for staffing challenges. The Governor also reiterated his support for incorporating new electric ferries into the fleet, noting that procuring diesel vessels may add two years onto the current timeline.

County staff learned it is unlikely that the County would receive capital funds to support boat purchases until the State completes the two outstanding studies on ferry economic impacts and passenger only services. In the meantime, the County will work to develop a legislative ask for the 2025 legislative session.

“I left feeling optimistic,” said Chair Fuller. “I’m motivated to work with my seatmates on a compelling and achievable legislative ask that will help us better take care of ourselves in the event of future ferry service disruptions.”

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SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 21, 2024 – San Juan County Council issued a request to the Washington State Governor’s Office for a ‘State of Emergency’ and ‘executive relief’ from ferry service disruptions. The 180-day interim proposal outlined a plan for financing local marine transportation alternatives that would attempt to mitigate the significant impacts on the County’s economy and its ability to deliver essential public services, as well as significant transportation challenges experienced by residents and visitors.

The County requested $995,670.00 in financial support from the State in three areas:

1. Interisland passenger only water taxi service $ 279,450.00
2. Anacortes / San Juan Islands passenger only ferry service $ 659,295.00
3. On-call essential/critical services barge transportation $ 56,925.00

Local Ferry Data

Council developed this funding request based on several key pieces of local data, including:

• An internal County Government ferry impacts review regarding effects ferry service disruptions have upon the delivery of essential public services
• Statistics from the Community Water Taxi Survey – both the 2024 survey and their year-to-date ridership data
• Survey results from Transition Lopez that explore the establishment of a fossil-free local shuttle service on Lopez Island.

This data reveals that island residents, businesses, and the County’s ability to provide essential public services are suffering from increasing disruptions to ferry service.

Response from the State

Due to a variety of factors, the State did not issue a State of Emergency or grant Council’s funding requests. WSF reports that they continue to achieve more than 90% reliability across the system – including on the Anacortes / San Juans Islands route.

The Governor’s Office and WSF recognize ferry service deficiencies in the San Juans and thus are encouraging the San Juan County Council to develop a legislative ask for the upcoming legislative session that will begin in January of 2025. They recommend developing an ask utilizing the evidence base that the County has gathered in recent months to address the ongoing deficiencies in service on our State marine highway.

On Saturday, August 24, 2024, Governor Inslee will travel to San Juan Island to meet with representatives of the County and Town Councils, County staff, and the Ferry Advisory Committee for further discussion of the islands’ ongoing ferry crisis.

“We as a County government are acutely aware of the struggles our locals and visitors are experiencing due to ferry service disruptions, and we see impacts to our own ability to serve the public,” said Council Chair Jane Fuller. “We are in ongoing discussions with the Governor’s office, our state legislators, and local community stakeholders to seek solutions to these impactful disruptions, while at the same time exploring the role our County government can play in supporting interim measures.”

Next Steps

Council is grateful for the continued support of 40^th district legislators and will continue to work together to coordinate and strengthen messaging around the need for reliable ferry service in the San Juans. The Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is August 27 where they be discussing the development of a new legislative ask for the forthcoming legislative session.

The Council Chair is currently in the process of establishing an external Transportation Working Group comprised of representatives from Chambers, Ports, non-profits, and other local entities. This group will be tasked with identifying local solutions to transportation issues that can be explored by the County government.

All San Juan County residents are encouraged to participate in the State’s online public open house through August 23^rd to provide local input on the draft ferry schedule re-write for the Anacortes / San Juans route. WSF is hopeful that an updated schedule will significantly help on-time performance and minimize "reset cancellations." The new schedule will go into effect in January 2025.

The County will release additional updates as they become available.

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SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. August 13, 2024 – San Juan County remains committed to working with state officials to improve Washington State Ferry (WSF) service in the San Juan Islands. This summer, the County gathered survey data from partner organizations and internal departments, along with anecdotes from employees, residents, business owners, and visitors that have shaped a funding request to the Washington State Governor’s Office for ‘executive relief’ from ferry service disruptions.

“We were thrilled by WSF’s response to supporting the interisland ferry route during the week of our County Fair,” said Council Chair Jane Fuller. On Thursday August 8, WSF committed additional crews and developed a contingency plan to keep the Tillikum running from August 14-18.

“We also want to make sure that our community knows we’re paying attention and not giving up. We have faith in our state government and are continuing to do our due diligence in collecting the data and evidence we need to tell our story,” said Chair Fuller.

Several key pieces of local data helped inform an ask to the governor’s office, including:

• An internal County Government ferry impacts review regarding effects ferry service disruptions have upon the delivery of essential public services
• Statistics from the Community Water Taxi Survey – both the 2024 survey and their year-to-date ridership data
• Survey results from Transition Lopez that explore the establishment of a fossil-free local shuttle service on Lopez Island.

This data reveals that island residents, businesses, and the County’s ability to provide essential public services are suffering from increasing disruptions to ferry service.

While the Governor’s Office considers the County’s requests, the state has several short-term and long-term initiatives in the works to support ferry service in the San Juans, including:

• WSF prioritized the San Juans for full-service restoration with 4/15 vessels assigned to those routes.
• The legislature provided $100k to WSF to reimburse walk-on passengers that are stranded when the last sailing of the day is cancelled. WSF is developing the implementation policy now and the program should be available within the next month.
• WSF is working on updating the ferry schedule for the Anacortes / San Juans route. This should significantly help on-time performance and minimize "reset cancellations." The online public open house is open through August 23^rd and the new schedule will go into effect in January 2025.
• WSF has started the procurement process to update the reservation system. The RFP was issued in early August with the goal of completing the project by the end of 2025.
• WSF is prioritizing employee retention in the following ways:
  1. WSF is offering incentives for employees who accept relief requests for the interisland route. This is the only route in the entire system with this incentive.
  2. Contract negotiations are underway between the Office of Financial Management and the unions. Negotiations should be completed in the fall of 2024.

The County acknowledges that while these initiatives don’t provide immediate relief to the struggles many islanders and visitors are facing today, these steps show the state is willing to listen and work with our County. The Council is grateful for the state’s continued attention and remains hopeful for additional financial support.

The County will release more information on the executive relief funding request after further conversations with the Governor’s Office. Updates will be provided as they become available.