(Kris Lytton photo)
Dozens of ferry supporters caught the first Anacortes-to-Sidney ferry run of the season and turned it into a celebration. They rolled out a banner during a stopover at Friday Harbor.
The ferry riders from Anacortes and Friday Harbor were greeted in Sidney, BC, by local officials there, many of whom made the return trip to Anacortes.
Among the ferry supporters on the trip were state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Rep. Judy Clibborn, chair of the House Transportation Committee and Rep. Jeff Morris and Sen. Kevin Ranker.
Mitch Everton, Anacortes Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, said it was a good trip. He wrote to Chanber members there were assurances that the Sidney ferry run will not be eliminated. “Both the Senate and House transportation chairs indicated that the ferry run would be included in their respective budgets. Based on this input, we were told that we are virtually assured of maintaining the Sidney run through the next budget cycle,” he wrote.
On the way back, the legislators held what they called a “ferry town hall meeting,” answering questions about the future of the state ferry system.
Governor Christine Gregoire’s proposed budget eliminates the Sidney service, but the budget proposed by the Senate Transportation Committee recommends continuing the service.