You did it! You spoke, and Olympia listened. The legislature has taken important first steps to relieving the ferry crisis, something that many of us would not have imagined possible even a few months ago.

While we await signature from the Governor, there is significant WSF investment in the transportation budget overall. Ferry-dependent and Vashon residents have come away with some critical first wins:

· $3.17M to fund mid-day, mid-week water taxi service from Vashon to Seattle
· Over $10 million to recruit, hire, and train new staff – from deck officers to engine room staff - to reduce cancellations and late sailings due to crew shortages
· $169,000 to hire a planner/scheduler to revise and improve the two-boat schedule
· $100,000 to reimburse walk-on customers for emergency expenses when WSF cancels the last sailing of the day

Thank you to everyone who signed this petition and shared their stories, and to the hundreds of Vashon residents who petitioned the legislature to help make these first wins possible. Thank you to the hundreds of Vashon residents who spoke up to help make these first wins possible. Thank you to the Islanders for Ferry Action lead volunteers, Wendy Aman, Beth Lindsay, Rick Wallace, Cheryl Lubbert, Erin Kieper, and Laura Cherry.

Thank you to Representative Alvarado for introducing the $3.17M allocation for expanded water taxi service. Thank you, Senator Nguyen and Representative Fitzgibbon for your work and support.

Thank you Senator Liias, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. Thank you to Representatives Fey, Paul, and Nance, and thank you Governor Inslee.

Thank you King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda and the team for work behind the scenes and sending a letter of support to legislators.

These first steps help - but there's so much more to be done. Islanders for Ferry Action looks forward to working with ferry-dependent communities to make even more progress in alleviating this crisis!