Ferries in Washington State

Washington is home to a number of public and private ferry systems, most notably the state-run Washington State Ferries.

History

Because of its unique topography, which features large, deep bodies of water with many peninsulas and islands, ferries are a natural means of connecting communities in the region.

Washington State Ferries

Washington State Ferries, owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation, serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the largest fleet of passenger and automobile ferries in the United States and the third largest in the world.

Other ferries in Washington

Publicly operated

*The Guemes Island Ferry from Anacortes 5 minutes north to Guemes Island is operated by Skagit County, Washington. [cite web|url=http://skagitcounty.net/Common/ASP/Default.asp?d=publicworksferry&c=General&p=ferry.htm|title=Guemes Island Ferry|publisher=Skagit County, Washington]
*Wahkiakum County operates the Wahkiakum County Ferry between Puget Island, Washington and Westport, Oregon on the lower Columbia River.
*The Colville Confederated Tribes operates the M/V "Columbia Princess" a.k.a. the Gifford-Inchelium Ferry on the upper Columbia River.
*Pierce County operates two ferries from Steilacoom to Anderson Island and Ketron Island: the "Christine Anderson" and the "Steilacoom II". [cite web|url=http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/pwu/ferry/steil2.htm|title=Pierce County's Ferry fleet|publisher=Pierce County, Washington]
*The Washington State Department of Corrections also operates a ferry from the same dock to the McNeil Island Corrections Center. [cite web|url=http://www.doc.wa.gov/facilities/mcneilferry.asp|publisher=Washington State Department of Corrections|title=McNeil Island Ferry Schedule]
*The Lummi Island Ferry, also knowns at the M/V "Whatcom Chief", from Gooseberry Point to Lummi Island is operated by Whatcom County.
*Kitsap Transit operates a passenger-only ferry between Port Orchard and Bremerton. [cite web|url=http://www.kitsaptransit.org/FootFerryHome.html|title=Kitsap Transit Foot Ferry|publisher=Kitsap Transit]
*The "Martha S.", also known as the Keller Ferry, is operated by WSDOT separately from the Washington State Ferry System on Puget Sound and crosses Lake Roosevelt on the Columbia River in north-east Washington. [cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Regions/Eastern/KellerFerry/|title=The Keller Ferry in Eastern Washington|publisher=WSDOT]

Private

Many private ferries exist to serve residents of islands throughout Puget Sound and beyond into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. For example:
*High-speed catamarans, geared to tourists, run to Victoria, British Columbia operated by Victoria Clipper (from Seattle) and by Victoria Express from Port Angeles.
*Black Ball Transport operates the M/V "Coho" auto/passenger ferry between Port Angeles and Victoria.
*The M/V "El Matador" crosses the channel of Grays Harbor, from Ocean Shores to Westport during summer months.
*The M/V "Charlie Wells" crosses Case Inlet from the Key Peninsula (south of Vaughn, WA) to Herron Island, a privately owned and operated island.

Passenger-only

From 2004 to April 2007, a private company, the Kitsap Ferry Co., provided passenger-only ferry service between Bremerton and Seattle, during weekday commute times. The service was canceled due to high costs and lack of support from Kitsap Transit, whose district voters failed to pass a sales tax increase for the foot ferry.

The most recent run, between Kingston and Seattle, called Aqua Express, shut down after two years of non-profitable service. West Seattle to the Seattle central business district and Bremerton to Seattle have been other passenger-only routes attempted by private enterprise.

The new King County Ferry District is operating two passenger-only ferry services (Elliott Bay Water Taxi and service to Vashon Island). [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004012833_ferry14m.html "King County dives into foot ferries", "Seattle Times"] November 14, 2007 (accessed May 31, 2008)]

References

External links

* [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/visitors_center/index.cfm?fuseaction=other_services WSDOT managed list of ferry services operating in State of Washington waterways]