Washington State Ferries to get $38M from feds to improve service

Washington State Ferries will receive $38 million from the Federal Highway Administration to improve its ferry service.

Eight other Washington ferry providers — including the King County Department of Transportation — will also receive around $4 million in federal money, totaling $42.4 million for the state, more than double the amount the state received in 2021, said WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling in a statement.

A total of $172 million will be distributed across the U.S. to improve ferry service, marking the first major release of money since the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Sterling said.

“Many Americans rely on ferry service as a primary means of travel, making it a critical connection to jobs, health care and other daily needs,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a Friday news release. “The funding we are announcing today will continue and enhance ferry service for communities across the country.”  

Out of the 35 states and three territories receiving federal money for ferries, Washington will get the biggest allocation, followed by Alaska with $36 million.

The distribution of the money is determined by data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Ferry riders in Seattle and the Puget Sound area have seen their fair share of woes. Since last year, staffing shortages, boat repairs and COVID-19 outbreaks have led to reduced service on Seattle routes and cancellations Most recently, the Cathlamet ferry crash reduced the Fauntleroy-Vashon Island-Southworth route to one boat.

The Cathlamet is likely to be out for months, putting the ferry system in a squeeze. It takes 19 boats to run a full schedule. WSF has 21 boats, two of which are held out for maintenance at any time, leaving little room for flexibility, according to the agency.

For now, the problem of crew shortages is worse than the problem of vessel shortages.

Sterling said the federal money will help improve terminals and preserve existing ferries.

Here is how $42.4 million in federal funding will be broken down in Washington:

• Colville Confederated Tribes, which operates the Inchelium-Gifford Ferry: $318,505
• Pierce County Public Works: $875,952
• Skagit County Department of Public Works: $604,964
• The eastern region of Washington: $159,030
• Whatcom County Public Works Department: $783,239
• Kitsap Transit: $855,085
• Washington State Ferries: $38,306,096
• Wahkiakum County: $159,022
• Marine Division of the King County Department of Transportation: $380,753