Overview

The Puget Sound region is blessed with a network of water highways embedded in its sprawling namesake waterway. Years ago, so-called "Mosquito Fleet" passenger-only or foot ferries swarmed Puget Sound, carrying travelers to and from many locales. The age of the automobile led to the end of the Mosquito Fleet and the advent of huge car ferries, but in recent years the appeal of passenger-only ferries has grown while steady funding has unfortunately been elusive. The state of Washington is getting out of passenger-only ferry operations, leaving the door open for cities and counties to shape strategy. The future of passenger ferries now appears more promising after the King County Council - partly because of Cascadia Center's advocacy since 2003 - voted to establish a passenger ferry district. The pan-Sound Passenger Ferry Coalition (which we staff) is a part of a Puget Sound Regional Council study that will result in recommendations on the financing and governance structure for an enhanced passenger-only ferry system.

Metro-Region Passenger-Only Ferries

Cascadia Center's proposal for permanent passenger ferry service operated by King County and private partners, has reached a major milestone. King County has approved a passenger ferry district, using existing property taxes and bonds. They are looking at three areas of service, which we recommended to previous advisory committees: expanding the water taxi service between downtown Seattle and West Seattle to year-round service and connecting with Ballard; including the south Puget Sound triangle route between Des Moines (with an airport shuttle), Gig Harbor and Tacoma; and adding a ferry across Lake Washington from Kirkland to the University of Washington.

Puget Sound

"A Turning Point Approaches For Fast Foot Ferries In Puget Sound, Matt Rosenberg, Cascadia Prospectus, 7/5/07.

Puget Sound Regional Council Passenger-Only Ferry Study, (ongoing).

Waterborne Transit Policy Study, King County Department of Transportation, August, 2005.

Portland, Oregon

"Willamette River Ferry Transit For Portland: Pipe Dream Or Not?," Matt Rosenberg, Cascadia Prospectus, 7/31/07.

The Ready River Of Transit At Our Core, Peter Wilcox, The Oregonian, 7/30/07.

Willamette River Ferry Feasibility Study, City Of Portland Department of Transportation, 2006.

R&D On High-Speed, Low-Wake Passenger-Only Ferries

Where fast passenger-only ferries navigate narrow passages, such as Rich Passage in Puget Sound, wake impacts on shorelines of private property owners can pose problems. A joint federal-state study has been initiated to map solutions for Puget Sound, and is expected to move into a field-testing phase by 2009.

Low Wake Study and Planned Ferry Are World Class, Kitsap Sun, editorial, 07/21/07.

"Fast Ferry Will Come To Kitsap For Research," Ed Friedrich, Kitsap Sun, 7/17/07.

Rich Passage Passenger-Only Ferry Study, Phase I, WSDOT, Federal Transit Administration, 4/05.