State Budget Cuts Could Slash Puget Sound's Passenger Ferry Service

Dozens of Water Taxi and Kitsap Fast Ferry trips would be slashed if the state Senate’s budget writers get their way.

As the Washington State House and Senate work toward a compromise two-year transportation budget ahead of the final day of the legislative session on April 27, the future of a key mobility option for many Puget Sound residents is fully up in the air.

State financial support enables supplemental service on both the King County Water Taxi’s Vashon Island route and Kitsap Transit’s Bremerton fast ferry, a direct response to reduced Washington State Ferries (WSF) service in those areas. While the transportation budget approved by the House early this month includes funding to continue that supplemental service, the state Senate’s budget does not.

Without those dollars, four daily round trips every weekday between Vashon Island and Downtown Seattle would likely be cancelled, along with seven weekday round trips between Bremerton and Downtown Seattle — and all Bremerton fast ferry trips on Saturdays outside of the peak summer season.

https://www.theurbanist.org/2025/04/21/state-could-slash-puget-sound-passenger-ferry-service/