Washington State Ferries: It’s THE Way to Go

It’s back home to Maui tomorrow, but I have spent the past couple of days on Whidbey Island, which is about 30 miles north of Seattle. And my trip over there prompts a word or two about the terrific ferry system operated by the State of Washington.

I have no idea how many of these sturdy boats are operating in and around these parts, but they seem to be everywhere … shuttling back and forth across Puget Sound and from the mainland to many (probably most) of the islands up and down the coast here.

Some of the ferries are smaller than others, but the ones running between the mainland and Whidbey Island can accommodate well over 100 vehicles on two levels. Most were family cars and pickup trucks, but there were also several motorcycles and even two or three large semi-trailer trucks. The fares vary, but I paid about $7 each way for my ride.

Most of the people using the ferry simply sit in their cars for the crossing to Whidbey Island, which only takes about 20 minutes, but there is also a spacious third deck where passengers can walk around –in or out of the weather – and there’s a snack bar serving a variety of simple offerings, plus soft drinks, coffee, etc.

I don’t know what it costs the State of Washington to operate this system, but I’m sure there must be some kind of subsidy … the point being that essential public transportation can come in many forms, including airlines, subways, ferries, highways, and all the way down to bike paths and sidewalks. All provide essential services to the public and it’s appropriate that all are paid for with a combination of private funds from the people who use them and tax dollars from the general public.

And that begs the question: Why is there still such virulent opposition from some members of Congress to any kind of federal subsidy for Amtrak? Fortunately, there are fewer and fewer of those people, but they’re still out there. And those of us who know and care about the benefits and advantages of rail transportation need to speak up and let them know how we feel.

To that end, may I suggest you consider a membership in the National Association of Railroad Passengers? NARP is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that lobbies in Washington, DC, on behalf of all rail passengers. And in State capitols around the country, too. Please give it some thought … and go here for membership information. Thanks!