The news came to us in an email, then a phone call — “are you seeing this?”
Sure enough, there was Governor Bob Ferguson, announcing that full domestic ferry service would return to Washington State Ferries (WSF) by the summer.
It was surreal to us, as islanders who have suffered sailings canceled by crew shortages and north-end service limited by boat availability.
Three-boat service will significantly increase those sailings. Coupled with an improved two-boat schedule for when we don’t have a larger boat available, plus boosted water taxi service, we have lots of reasons to celebrate.
Amid all this news, we do feel a little bit like Charlie Brown, running down the field to kick the football. The state has forecasted months-away restoration of the Triangle Route several times over the last few years, and each time had to delay those rosy estimates.
So forgive us if we’re a bit skeptical about how this summer will all play out. WSF still has very little slack in its number of vessels, and when an Issaquah-class boat goes out, we may still need to return to two-boat service, according to WSF.
But we’re genuinely appreciative of the governor’s focus on the ferry issue, and of WSF’s willingness to get real with us about what restoration this summer will mean.
We’re especially thankful to the people of Vashon who pushed this crisis into the governor’s race, lobbied legislators and shared the stories of islanders — from young students coming to class to older retirees seeking medical care — proving that this is a story about community healthcare, education and public safety.
They are far too numerous to name each, but we nonetheless must credit Amy Drayer, Wendy Aman, Beth Lindsay and Rick Wallace of Islanders for Ferry Action. Their tireless advocacy and political acumen led to a community victory for the history books here on Vashon. The members of Vashon’s Ferry Advisory Committee have repeatedly and thoughtfully brought our ideas, big and small, to WSF. And legislators Emily Alvarado, Joe Fitzgibbon and Joe Nguyễn (now heading the state Commerce department) listened and fought for us, too, as did King County Council Member Teresa Mosqueda.
Anchors aweigh — to kept appointments, busy businesses, full classrooms and happy crews.
