— Daniel DeMay, SeattlePI.com —
If you’ve lived here for long, there’s a good chance you’ve ridden a ferry.
Nearly 24 million people rode one of the 22 boats that make up the Washington State Ferries fleet in 2015. And people have been sailing on them for a long time.
June 1 marked 65 years since Washington state took over ferry service on Puget Sound, and while much has changed, some things will always remain true.
“It probably connects people to their natural environment closer than most transportation systems,” said Ray Deardorf, planning manager and 28-year veteran of Washington State Ferries. “You’re out on the water, there are birds and sea life and magnificent vistas. (And) the places we sail are really magical.”
Today’s ferry system serves 10 routes all over Puget Sound and just a bit beyond. It’s a well-organized, safe and reliable way of getting around in an area where land masses are frequently separated by water.
But getting to today’s system has been a long voyage.
[To read the story in full, along with a photo collection, CLICK HERE.]
