The state has had plans to replace the 50-year-old Anacortes ferry terminal for ten years, but a lack of funds and low priority keep getting in the way. The state recently launched an effort to see if there's in interest in rebuilding it in a public-private partnership.
The state Department of Transportation recently requested letters of interest from potential private parties, with a deadline of Dec. 10 to make proposals to the state for replacing the terminal using a public-private partnership.
Approximately 700,000 passengers pass through the terminal every year, residents of the islands, tourists visiting the San Juans and tourists traveling between Vancouver Is. and Washington state.
In their request for letters of interest, the DOT said, "Possibilities may exist for combining the ferry terminal functions and structure(s) with various commercial ventures, such as lodging, conference and meeting facilities, food service, shopping, or other retail operations."
A study done a year ago said the current terminal is "functionally inadequate for today's operations." And, it pointed out that ridership has increased, there are new Homeland Security requirements and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
The study said, "The identified deficiencies of the existing facility will only be exacerbated as the ridership continues to increase over the next decades."
The study suggested the new terminal would need to stay roughly where the current terminal building is located, on land owned by the Port of Anacortes and leased to the state.