A community conversation on island transportation | Column
Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 20, 2025
By Colin Williams
Deer Harbor
The following letter, originally sent to Island Rides and local transportation officials, raises vital questions about Orcas Island’s transportation future. Friends of Rural Public Transportation has chosen to share these thoughts publicly, inviting community-wide discussion about building a system that serves residents, manages visitor impacts, and protects what makes our island special. To read the full letter, visit http://forpt.org/cc.html.
Dear Island Rides, WSDOT, SJC, and RTAP:
Thank you for your response regarding public transportation feasibility on Orcas Island.
It’s been suggested that our island’s year-round population of approximately 5,000 residents swells to over 10,000 during summer months. As an island accessible only by water or air, Orcas naturally functions as a transportation exchange point. A preliminary analysis of WSF ridership data and marina statistics suggest that we may have 1000 or more visitors each day present in our community without a car.
I appreciate Island Rides’ commitment to electrified transportation for our most vulnerable community members. However, public transit represents a complementary—not competing—solution for carbon reduction. A well-organized pilot program would provide invaluable data about feasibility and environmental impact, regardless of the technology used.
While future innovations like self-driving buses may transform public transit, we cannot afford to wait. Delaying a pilot program today in anticipation of perfect solutions may cause us to miss critical opportunities to address current needs and gather essential operational data. The perfect must not become the enemy of the good.
When evaluating transportation efficiency, we should examine the full cost-benefit equation. Subsidizing walk-on passenger fares combined with partial public transit subsidies may prove more cost-effective than subsidizing vehicle fares across the WSF system.
I share your concerns about increased visitor traffic and believe measures like limiting vacation rentals deserve consideration. However, consider the concentrated environmental and road impact when thousands of visitors arrive in limited timeframes. Public transit could encourage more responsible tourism—visitors who arrive by car might utilize island transit, particularly if we actively encourage its use.
Creative financial solutions exist. Could we implement tiered fare structures where visitors pay premium rates while the county subsidizes resident fares or offers season passes? These approaches align with environmental values while building efficient networks to reduce overall vehicle traffic.
The stakes extend beyond logistics to encompass equity, environmental stewardship, financial sustainability, and human opportunity. Our goal should be developing solutions benefiting Orcas Island first, while considering broader impacts on Washington State and our nation.
I’ve submitted information requests to Island Rides, WSDOT/WSF, and SJC to build a comprehensive database supporting informed decision-making. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with your team to explore collaboration. Your community-driven rideshare program represents genuine innovation—particularly noteworthy because it emerged from public initiative. The electrification of your service is indeed the right technology at the right time.
While door-to-door service for vulnerable residents remains essential, it represents one component of a comprehensive solution rather than the complete answer. Let’s continue this spirit of innovation together.
I look forward to continuing this important dialogue.
