Katherine Bryant Ingman on ferries & transportation

||| FROM KATHERINE BRYANT INGMAN FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY COUNCIL |||

Transportation is essential to daily life in San Juan County. Ferry service remains our most critical link, but residents also rely on roads, transit, freight movement, and regional connections to get to work, healthcare, school, and the essentials of daily life.

It’s important to acknowledge that San Juan County doesn’t control the ferries, but we’re starting to get real traction. While we were all excited when Governor Inslee fast-tracked the ticket modernization project, it was heartbreaking to learn of the abrupt cancellation of the Anchor Operating System contract with Washington State Ferries (WSF) after $3 million had already been spent. WSF is putting its reservation system revamp out to bid again. I’ll be proactively making sure they follow through on it. Everything related to ferries in our county needs broad community engagement and input, because the people who live here are the ones who understand what’s at stake.

The county is also working with the state legislature on prioritizing critical users, and there’s broad council support for this. That means prioritizing the trips that keep the islands running, such as grocery deliveries, medical suppliers, hardware stores, mobile dental clinics, and essential governmental services. Getting that prioritization right is about making sure the islands can keep running, even when ferry capacity is tight.

I also believe in regional advocacy. The Congressional Ferry Caucus is a coalition of ferry-served counties working together to advocate with WSF and the state, and many counties see real progress through that collective path forward. We rely on our Ferry Advisory Committee to work alongside the Congressional Ferry Caucus on this. As your councilmember, I’d prioritize strengthening relationships in Olympia, sharing real stories from islanders affected by ferry service, and advocating as a region rather than the county alone. I believe that a collective voice carries greater weight.

We also need to update our long-term plan to make sure all voices are heard, and to be thoughtful about how future generations will rely on the ferry system for decades to come. I served on the WSF Sailing Schedules Update Task Force. Their purpose is to help rewrite and modernize decades-old ferry schedules that no longer align with current ridership numbers, crewing constraints, or vessel availability. That experience taught me how much islanders’ input matters in shaping how this system evolves.

San Juan County also needs a practical backup plan for when ferry service is disrupted, including where passenger-only boats could safely land at island centers and for barges to transport essential goods and services. That must be a coordinated effort because just getting to the island is not enough. That “last mile” of travel is critical to make sure residents get to their final destination through rideshare programs or public transportation options. I want the county working with island residents and public, private and nonprofit partners, including our local taxi and boat companies, WSF, Island Rides, and local resource centers to build that backup plan together.

Here are practical steps I’d take as your councilmember:

• Support transportation planning that reflects the unique realities of islandcommunities and encourages on-island connectivity through greater EV use
• Advocate for reliable, equitable ferry service and strong regional transportationconnections by building relationships in Olympia with WSDOT and the state legislature
• Improve coordination among local, regional, and state transportation partners to move residents more effectively
• Increase ADA-compliant transportation options for residents with limited mobility

To learn more, visit katherinebryantingman.com.