Submitted by San Juan County.
During the Council retreat in January, County staff discussed past and future efforts to support transportation initiatives throughout the islands. One of the most notable initiatives from 2025 was the County’s 10-week Marine Transportation Pilot Project. The final report is now available to the public and outlines the impact of services, including emergency barge and foot-passenger transportation during significant and impactful disruptions to Washington State Ferry service, as well as daily travel to and from the mainland (Anacortes) throughout 2023 and 2024. View the report here: https://sanjuancountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33385/Marine-Transport-Pilot-Project-Final-Report.
The project served over 2,500 passengers over 10 weeks between April and June 2025 who reported traveling for recreation/leisure, commuting to/from work and traveling for appointments, including medical needs. Each of these services was provided at no cost to the passengers, subsidized by the County’s emergency funding awarded by the Governor’s Office. The final report covers ridership statistics, public survey feedback and contractor input.
The state committed $1.5 million in “executive relief” to run the pilot from the Department of Commerce’s Emergency Rapid Response fund, and the contract concluded after 10 weeks. Between the beginning of April and end of June, the County expended $656,861.46 of the initial $850,000 made available. Unfortunately, due to state budget challenges, the County was not able to provide a longer pilot program of 180 days total through the end of September. As reflected in the final report, San Juan County was able to generate valuable data and information on the demand for passenger-only ferry service between the islands and the mainland, as well as the challenges to managing such a service as a local government.
Daily passenger service
San Juan Safaris provided seven-day-a-week, twice-daily passenger-only transportation service to Friday Harbor, Orcas, Lopez and Anacortes. They operated for 74 days and completed 148 round-trips. During the length of the project, San Juan Safaris reported transporting 2,399 passengers, 114 pets and 465 bikes. The top three reasons for travel included recreation/leisure, traveling to/from work and traveling for appointments, including medical needs.
Emergency services
Outer Island Excursions provided emergency interisland passenger service when the Washington State Ferries experienced disruptions. During the length of the project, Outer Island Excursions was activated for nine days and completed 12 round-trips that transported 127 passengers. The top three reasons for travel included getting home, traveling for work and receiving medical care.
Pintail Marine was on stand-by to provide emergency barge service should the Washington State Ferries experience significant service disruptions. This service was not mobilized but received four preregistrations from local businesses.
Community survey feedback
The County hosted a community survey that was sent to passengers and broadly circulated online and in local news outlets. The survey gathered 210 responses that help contextualize experiences with the pilot project.
Overall, approximately 75% of respondents to the community survey rated their experience with the daily passenger service favorably. Approximately 65% of respondents live on the mainland, the majority of passengers used the transportation services for round-trip recreation/leisure travel and 40% of respondents are 65 or older.
Regarding potential future services:
• 47% of respondents said they’d be very likely to use daily foot-passenger interisland and mainland services if available, with 50% saying they’d be very likely to pay a reasonable cost for it, such as the WSF walk-on fee.
• 56% of respondents said they’d be very likely to support emergency marine transportation service during ferry disruptions, with 47% saying they’d be very likely to pay a reasonable cost for it, such as the WSF walk-on fee.
If San Juan County were to consider establishing a more permanent foot passenger marine transportation system in the future:
• 42% of respondents said they’d be very likely to support establishing a transit district via property taxes that covers the full scope of operations and is free to riders.
• 37% of respondents said they’d be very likely to support establishing a transit district via property taxes that is subsidized by riders purchasing tickets.
• 33% of respondents said they’d be very likely to support establishing a transportation system funded purely by riders purchasing tickets.
Contractor feedback
The contractors involved in the project provided valuable feedback about increasing and improving communications with WSF and the public, addressing the availability of dock space, and the desire for a structured schedule for emergency transportation routes.
San Juan County and transportation
San Juan County remains interested in supporting marine transportation alternatives throughout the islands and the mainland and continues to explore avenues to expand the network of available services. The County’s largest traditional transportation function remains in the Public Works Department, specifically the planning, development and maintenance of road infrastructure and marine facilities.
The County has a variety of transportation policies, plans and programs, including:
• Transportation element of the Comprehensive Plan – updated in 2025.
• Human Services Transportation Plan.
• The Recreation, Open Space, and Stewardship Plan.
• San Juan County’s Transportation Voucher Program maintains a list of transportation providers, including resource centers, local cab and taxi providers, water taxi providers, and transit services like SJ Transit and “Island Rides.”
• County staff and Council members serve on transportation-related committees, including the Ferry Advisory Committee, the SWISS (San Juan, Whatcom, Island, Skagit, Snohomish) Regional Transportation Subcommittee, the North Sound Transportation Alliance and an internal county transportation working group.
For a complete list of information about the County’s pilot project to establish marine transportation services, please visit: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/san-juan-county-emergency-transportation-services.
