WA governor's $1B borrowing plan to buy new ferries sinks in Legislature
Budget writers in the Washington Legislature on Monday declared their intent to eventually buy more hybrid electric ferries to modernize the state ferry fleet.
But newly unveiled House and Senate transportation spending proposals left at the dock a $1 billion borrowing request from the governor to pay the tab, raising doubts about when and how a new shipyard order might happen. The budget plans would also further pause the conversion of existing diesel ferries to electric power.
Meanwhile, proposals are floating around Olympia that would involve the state leasing ferryboats and clearing the way for more locally supported, passenger-only service.
Washington State Ferries urgently needs more vessels — and more reliable vessels. The average age of the fleet is 35 years old. Five of the state’s iconic green-and-white car ferries are well over 50 years old. The ferry system currently doesn’t have a backup ferry available to fill in during the inevitable breakdowns.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/02/23/wa-governors-1b-borrowing-plan-to-buy-new-ferries-sinks-in-legislature/