HomeMy WebLinkAboutADDITIONAL BUSINESS: Letter of Support 2026 Rural ferry service of �N • Board of County Commissioners
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PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
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O" weather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
May 4, 2026
Administrator, Federal Transit Administration
Office of Program Management
Attention: FTA Ferry Programs
1200 New Jersey Avenue,SE
Washington, DC 20590
RE: Letter of Support— FY 2026 Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program (Opportunity ID: FTA-2026-006-
TPM-FerryRural) I WSDOT Washington State Ferries Application
Dear Administrator Molinaro:
We write to express our strong support for the Washington State Department of Transportation's application for
operating assistance under the FY 2026 Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program. As representatives of ferry-
served communities, we are committed to ensuring that Washington's ferry-dependent communities have reliable
access to the services and opportunities they need. Washington State Ferries is not merely a transportation system —
it is a lifeline for rural island and coastal communities across our state, and we believe federal investment in its
continued operation is both appropriate and essential.
For many communities in Washington State, ferry service is the only practical connection to the broader region.
Residents depend on it to reach healthcare, employment, education, and essential goods. Our local economies rely
on it to move freight and welcome visitors. When service is reduced or unreliable, the consequences fall hardest on
those who have no alternative — and in many cases, no alternative exists. The Washington State Legislature has
consistently recognized this reality through its ongoing commitment to supporting Washington State Ferries, and we
believe the federal government should be a full partner in that effort.
We note that the Federal Transit Administration has previously recognized WSF's San Juan Islands service and the
Port Townsend—Coupeville route as qualifying rural ferry routes, awarding $80,000,000 in Section 5311 CRRSAA
funding (Award WA-2021-022-00) for rural ferry operating assistance during the pandemic recovery period. This
precedent is important: FTA's own prior determination confirms that these routes serve genuinely rural communities
with essential transportation needs that cannot be met by any alternative mode. We encourage FTA to extend that
recognition through this competitive award and invest in the long-term sustainability of rural ferry service in
Washington State. We are confident that WSF has the experience, organizational capacity, and community
relationships necessary to deploy federal operating assistance effectively and deliver meaningful benefits to the rural
communities this program is intended to serve.
We strongly encourage the Federal Transit Administration to give full and favorable consideration to this application.
Federal investment in Washington's rural ferry service is an investment in the health, economic vitality, and daily
quality of life of communities that depend on it. We appreciate the agency's commitment to rural transportation
access and are available should you wish to discuss our support for this application.
Respectfully s bmitted,
Sinc
Hea e ey-Nollette, Dist. 1 Heidi Eisenhour, Dist. 2 Greg Brotherton, Dist. 3. Chair
Phone(360)385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us