Washington State Ferries

[Holden West]

This is big enough news that it deserves a thread of its own. I was surprised and disappointed to see the announced end of the Anacortes-Sidney run of the Washington State Ferries.

I've only used it to go to San Juan Island. At the time you only had a couple of hours to tour the small town before the ferry came back on its way to Sidney. Still, a great way to while away a summer afternoon. I would still like to stay overnight and investigate the other islands.

It's a shame we're losing this great link to the US. For me, the San Juans incorporate the best of the Gulf Islands along with (for better or worse) small town American culture.

1919:



1932:



1946:

[G-Man]

So last time this was proposed there was outcry in Anacortes and Sidney are we expecting the same this time?

I think they need to decided whether they want a ferry to Anacortes or a ferry to the San Juans it is the combo that is killing it because of the time it takes.

[G-Man]

Ferry link to Anacortes could be cut

Cash-strapped Washington ferry system mulls dropping route at end of summer

By Richard WattsDecember 19, 2008 8:01 AM



Photograph by: Times Colonist

The ferry link between Sidney and Anacortes, Wash. -- which has been running since the 1920s -- will shut down next year if a proposal from Washington's governor is approved.

David Moseley, director of the Washington State Ferry System, said in a telephone interview last night the budget proposals released this week show an end to the ferry link by the end of September 2009.

Moseley said dropping the route will save the ferry system just over $9 million annually. "It's not something we want to do, it's just economic reality."

He said an end to the ferry link is not a certainty. The ferry service cut is listed in preliminary proposals for the state budget. The final budget will be approved sometime in April.

Last year the Sidney-Anacortes ferry carried 113,000 passengers between spring and January, making it the lowest ridership in the Washington State Ferry System.

But according to civic officials the ferry link is a huge boost to local economies on both sides of the border.

Sidney Mayor Larry Cross said he has talked with Dean Maxwell, mayor of Anacortes, who is perhaps "even more concerned" than they are in Sidney.

Cross said he was told meetings of Washington state municipal leaders are in the process of coming together. He pledged Sidney will do what it can to assist in saving the route.

"It is one of those things, if cooler heads rule, at the end of the day, I think what will happen is they will not cut that ferry," he said.

Figures for the route's economic impact on Sidney and Vancouver Island are imprecise. But Cross said a Washington state study showed the route generated $126 million in total tourism spending and $20.6 million in direct benefits.

Eileen Leddy, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, noted 20,000 visits at the Sidney visitor centre arrived via the Sidney-Anacortes ferry.

"That is a large component of our tourist traffic," said Leddy. "That brings a lot of dollars on to the Peninsula."

She predicted the Saanich Peninsula Chamber's sister cities committee and other links with Anacortes and Skagit County would begin efforts quickly to see the ferry link maintained.

"I don't panic until I hear the final word," said Leddy.

The Washington State Ferry System has faced red ink since 1999, when voters repealed a motor vehicle tax that provided the ferries with a large portion of their funding.

With money tight, the Sidney-Anacortes service was reduced in 2003. There's now no service for three months each winter.

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

[Bernard]

Originally Posted by G-Man

Figures for the route's economic impact on Sidney and Vancouver Island are imprecise. But Cross said a Washington state study showed the route generated $126 million in total tourism spending and $20.6 million in direct benefits.

Eileen Leddy, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, noted 20,000 visits at the Sidney visitor centre arrived via the Sidney-Anacortes ferry.

The ferry needs $9 000 000 subsidy, maybe the Saanich Peninsula businesses and local governments should kick in the money. I can understand why Washington State would not be keen to spending money to get people to Sidney.

In 2007 134 000 people passed through the Sidney ferry terminal, 67 000 round trips though a lot would not have been round trips. Last summer it carried 84 000 passengers, about typical for the last four years and down from about 95 000 in the earlier 2000s.

Though looking at the numbers above, they seem odd. I am not sure how the $126 000 000 fits with the $20 600 000 number.

Maybe BC Ferries and Washington state ferries should promote a circle tour with the ferries.

[Lover Fighter]

No way!
Of all the island-to-mainland ferries, this has always been my favourite. I use the Anacortes at least once a Summer as an alternative to getting to Seattle. The only reason I didn't use it more was because of the very limited number of sailings.

[Holden West]

BC Ferries, Coho or Anacortes: which is cheaper/faster to get to Seattle?

[Coreyburger]

I haven't seen anything, but shouldn't this subsidy be split between BC and Wash? Is it?

[G-Man]

Originally Posted by Holden West

BC Ferries, Coho or Anacortes: which is cheaper/faster to get to Seattle?

I think the Coho is the fastest.

[jklymak]

I think it depends on the border. If I could go at a time w/o potential line ups, I always chose to go through Tsawassen. I never have gone via Anacortes unless I was going to Friday Harbor for some reason. You usually have to wait for the ferries, so 2 ferries always seemed harder than one.

[Lover Fighter]

The cheapest way as a passenger to get to Seattle is to bus to Sidney, take the Anacortes ferry, then bus to Seattle. The cheapest way as a vehicle was the Coho + Bremerton ferries, but with the super cheap BC Ferries this winter I think the Tsawassen route wins.

If you time the Coho + Bremerton ferries, it's definitely the fastest way by car to get to Seattle.

[Bernard]

Currently the cost is all borne by Washington State Ferries. They receive little or no government money for operations. Their estimate is that they would save $9 million a year by not having this run, so it is not a subsidy at all, but a loss.

[Holden West]

TRANSPORTATION

Sidney set to lose millions in tourist dollars if Washington ferry route cut
MURRAY LANGDON

Special to the Globe and Mail

December 22, 2008

VICTORIA -- The Washington State ferry between Sidney, B.C., on Vancouver Island and Anacortes, Wash., has been targeted by Governor Christine Gregoire, threatening to cut off Sidney from millions in tourist dollars.

In her 2009-2011 budget, which slashed a total of more than $3.5-billion (U.S.) in spending, Ms. Gregoire proposes to chop the run, eliminating 35 jobs and saving the state $9.2-million. Service is slated to end next September.

Mr. Cross said he and his council mates will do whatever it takes to preserve the run, but also noted that the proposed measures still require approval in the legislature.

"It's not passed ... so it's not a done deal. We'll be working with the mayor of Anacortes, Whatcom County folks and any legislator so this measure does not carry through."