Dear Legislator;

This letter is to request your support for HB1923, “The Mosquito Fleet Act”.

We are Community Water Taxi, a group of concerned citizens and actors in San Juan County.

Over the last year and a half, we have studied passenger only ferry service (POF) in our county, assisted/co-developed short-term funding for needs-based riders, assisted with on-the-water service, published ridership data, liaised with County Council/State Legislators and helped secure $1.5 million of emergency funding for POF service in our county.

We have hands-on experience with providing water taxi services which HB1923 addresses. We know the customer needs and the operational details. We are available as a resource, if you need.

WSF will continue to serve our islands. However, WSF currently has operational issues, from staffing, to boat maintenance, to needing major capital infusions for new vessels. Governor Ferguson calls it a “crisis”. Since 2018, the public has been promised new ferries “in 2-3 years’ time”. The date for delivery of new ferries is still 3 years away and will likely get pushed to 2029 or later.

Funding for both “stop gap” and long-term stability of POF are needed in our community. HB1923 can fill both needs and is cost effective. Yes, there are budget difficulties. Wisdom shows that even in lean periods there are good investments to be made. We predict an increase in our local economy with stable and reliable POF service.

By supporting this bill, you continue to invest in public transportation, multi-modal connections, and you will reduce the costs associated with staffing and infrastructure compared to WSF car ferries. Some of the positives: it’s a win for the environment; lower impact on roads/state infrastructure; and faster, flexible, cost-effective service. It is achievable today. Additionally, there are nimble tools in HB1923 for creative implementation, and oversight of the funding.

Passenger ferries are a proven, cost-effective, efficient and therefore greener form of over-water transport that solve our immediate needs and invest in the future of Washington Transportation. HB1923 is a good investment that will lead to good returns for Washingtonians.

Community Water Taxi

Tom Bridge, USCG Master

Carey Eskridge, Community Advocate

Sandy Playa, EV Transportation Co-Ordinator