Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, earned his first legislative victory today when the Senate passed Senate Bill 5289 to designate the Washington State Ferries Anacortes/San Juan Islands route as a State Scenic Byway.
“I am very pleased with the progress of this bill,” said Senator Ranker. “I appreciate all of the work of Deborah Hopkins and the rest of the team at the San Juan Islands Visitors’ Bureau. They have worked tirelessly to make this important scenic byway designation a reality,” he continued.
Ranker points out that having a State Scenic Byway designation brings tangible benefits, including monetary resources to support and enhance natural, cultural and historical educational programs, signage, trails, and facilities to educate the public.
“I think the designation of a State Scenic Byway will be a big help in promoting the San Juan Islands as a destination of natural beauty and recreational opportunities, particularly during October through mid June,” said Ranker.
Although SB 5289 is a serious effort to encourage greater tourism and bring economic development to the region, Ranker’s colleagues carried out a Senate tradition of roasting him on the occasion of the passing of his first bill. Senators who also have ferry routes in their communities extolled the scenic beauty of their routes while one member from Central Washington noted that the Columbia River is a scenic waterway for which he’d like a ferry.
After SB 5289 eventually passed, Ranker concluded the tradition by presenting his fellow senators with gifts from his home district, including lavender from his yard, Lopez Larry’s Smokey Chardonnay Mustard from Lopez Island, and passes to visit the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor.
The Senate is also considering several other bills sponsored by Ranker, including Senate Bill 5344 to provide a permanent funding source for the Neah Bay Response Tug and Senate Bill 5944 to direct the Puget Sound Partnership to assist the city of Bellingham and Whatcom County to implement a demonstration program regarding phosphorus loading into Lake Whatcom.
