OLYMPIA—Fixing our ferry system can’t happen overnight, but increasing passenger-only ferries can help ease the pain for riders around Puget Sound who rely on Washington State Ferries daily to get to work, school, and the doctor.
“Folks are frustrated with years of ferry service cuts and cancellations,” said Rep. Greg Nance (D-Kitsap), sponsor of House Bill 1923. “Getting more passenger-only boats in the water is the fastest way to show our neighbors that the legislature is making progress to fix our ferries.”
Nance’s Mosquito Fleet Act establishes a passenger-only ferry grant program with funding to acquire and operate passenger-only ferries beginning July 1, 2025.
“In Kitsap, we’ve seen the benefits firsthand: neighbors across the peninsula count on Kitsap Transit Fast Ferries to reliably get to work, school, and the doctor. Investing in vessel capacity, workforce development, and maritime infrastructure will pay big dividends as we prepare to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and long after.”
“The benefits of passenger-only ferries should be available to folks across Puget Sound and around the state,” said Nance. “That’s what the Mosquito Fleet Act is all about.”
As the largest ferry system in the United States and second largest in the world, WSF is responsible for carrying nearly 20 million riders per year and has a fleet of 21 vessels that operate on 10 routes in the Puget Sound.
“During townhalls across Kitsap, I’ve heard the message loud and clear,” Nance said. “Fixing our ferries can’t wait.”
HB 1923 follows the $80 million in new funding appropriated in the 2024 supplemental transportation budget.