By Juan Jocom
Washington State Journal
Missed doctor appointments. Hourslong delays. Students unable to get to school. These are just a few of the issues fueling a bill to expand passenger-only ferries in Washington.
Since 2020, businesses and local communities on Vashon Island have struggled with the ongoing ferry crisis, said Amy Dreyer, director of Islanders Ferry Action and a member of the Vashon Island Chamber.
“I live on Vashon, so the ferries are our lifeline,” Dreyer said. “We don’t have a bridge. We can’t drive around. If the boats are down, that means ambulances can’t get off the island. It means people can’t get off the island for medical appointments. It means people can’t bring goods to the island.”
In 2024, island communities worked with the Legislature and the Washington State Department of Transportation to form the Fix Our Ferries Coalition, which advocates for funding more boats, addressing staffing shortages and increasing accountability and transparency within Washington State Ferries.
One of the legislators involved with the coalition is Rep. Greg Nance, D-Bainbridge Island, who introduced The Mosquito Fleet Act (HB 1932), which expands passenger-only ferries in Washington.
The bill is inspired by the Mosquito Fleet, a group of privately owned passenger steamboats that connected Puget Sound communities in the late 1800s.
During the 2025 legislative session, Nance met with community members across San Juan Island, Bremerton, Kingston, Poulsbo and Vashon Island to hear firsthand the challenges island residents face.
“We’ve got to do better for our neighbors who are counting on ferries,” Nance said.
If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1, delivering $50 million in funding to put additional boats on the waters of Puget Sound by the end of 2025.
According to WSF, 26 ferries are needed to run efficiently, but the agency has been operating with reduced trips due to a lack of vessels, a problem that won’t be fully resolved until 2028.
With Seattle set to host the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2026, Nance said the bill would not only make “Washington ready for the world stage” but also address the long-standing frustrations of island residents.
Additionally, Nance envisions introducing new ferry routes, including one in Grays Harbor connecting Westport and Ocean Shores and another on Lake Washington linking Kirkland and Seattle.
Since 2020, most ferry cancellations and delays have been attributed to staffing shortages. However, recent reports from Washington State Ferries indicate improvements in on-time performance and completed sailings.
The Mosquito Fleet Act could add more late-night and weekend trips for Vashon, said Kitsap County Commissioner Katie Walters. She noted that the expansion would not only boost island economies, especially during crucial tourist seasons like summer, but also help reduce carbon emissions.
However, Walters expressed doubts about whether the additional ferries would arrive on schedule, given the delays WSF is facing with new vessel orders.
To speed the process, Nance said phase one of the bill will not include building new boats. Instead, they want to purchase used vessels from other states.
“We want to get boats on the water as quickly as possible,” Nance said. “We can’t wait for a new build program.”
Opponents of the bill raised concerns about the environmental impact of increased vessel traffic in Puget Sound, particularly regarding the health of orcas.
Despite voting in favor, Rep. Julia Reed raised concerns about whether counties are prepared to manage additional boats if the bill is enacted, without needing additional state funding for support.
The bill passed out of the Transportation Committee and is awaiting review by the Rules Committee.
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