Passenger-Only Ferries

Remaining Transportation Challenges For Puget Sound

Cascadia Center For Regional Development November 5, 2008 ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008, Puget Sound voters approved Proposition One, a ballot measure that increases the sales tax to pay for extension of the region’s starter system of Sound Transit light rail, and which adds Sound Transit express bus and commuter train service. The projected cost is $17.9 billion and the light Read More ›

County Foot-Ferry Tax Proposed

In his new 2008 budget, King County Executive Ron Sims has proposed a property tax hike of 5 cents per $100,000 assessed valuation to fund a King County passenger-only ferry district. Gregory Roberts reports in today’s Seattle Post-Intelligencer: A 5-cent tax would cost $20 a year for the owner of a $400,000 home; Sims will send a specific proposal to Read More ›

Passenger-Only Ferries In Puget Sound Gain Momentum

A flurry of developments suggests passenger-only ferries are gaining momentum in Puget Sound. In recent months there have been seven routes in operation: the state’s Vashon Island to downtown Seattle run; King County’s West Seattle to downtown Seattle water taxi; Kitsap Transit’s Port Orchard to Bremerton foot ferry; and four longer, privately operated routes to the San Juan Islands and Read More ›

TV/Radio Coverage Of July 2 Foot Ferries Forum

Here are easy-play live links to TV and radio coverage of Cascadia Center’s July 2 forum on expanded passenger-only ferry service in the Puget Sound region. KPLU-FM, July 2, “Group Pushing For Expansion Of Passenger-Only Ferries” KIRO 7 TV, July 2, 6 p.m. News KING-5 TV/KONG TV, July 3, Morning News KIRO-AM 710, July 3, Morning News

A Turning Point Approaches For Fast Foot Ferries In Puget Sound

This Monday July 2, our Cascadia Center For Regional Development hosted a jam-packed forum in West Seattle for stakeholders to discuss next steps toward funding an expanded system of passenger-only ferries on Puget Sound and Lake Washington. This would embody a modern-day return of the region’s old “Mosquito Fleet” of foot ferries; providing today’s commuters and others with expanded transit Read More ›

In Search Of Passenger-Only Ferry Service That Pencils Out

This article, published by Crosscut, mentions Discovery Institute: At an event on Monday, July 2, put on by the Cascadia Project, the transportation think tank of the Discovery Institute, advocates and elected officials from around Puget Sound called for a regional effort to increase service. The rest of the article can be found here.

Decision By November On Tax Boost For Foot Ferries

This article, published by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, mentions Discovery Institute: King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson, also addressing the forum organized by the Discovery Institute, said she thinks a regional foot-ferry system may be needed to handle all the commuters, establish uniform financing and “avoid turf battles” over service. The rest of the article can be found here.

Passenger Ferry Fleet Eyed For Puget Sound

This article, published by the West Seattle Herald, mentions Discovery Institute: Sponsored by the Cascadia Discovery Institute, the July 2 forum put King County elected officials together with city officials, representatives of boat builders, maritime labor unions, chambers of commerce and transit agencies from Tacoma to Bellingham. The rest of the article can be found here.

Group Pushing For Passenger-only Ferries

KPLU-FM reporter Bellamy Pailthorp interviews Cascadia Center’s Director Bruce Agnew on the day of Cascadia’s “Return Of The Mosquito Fleet” stakeholder forum at Salty’s on Alki in West Seattle. MP3 audio file of the report here.