Washington State Ferries carried more than 7 million riders from June 14 through Saturday, its highest summer ridership since 2019, the Washington State Departm
Washington State Ferries carried more than 7 million riders from June 14 through Saturday, its highest summer ridership since 2019, the Washington State Department of Transportation said.
The total was nearly 130,000 riders higher than last summer. Of the system’s 16 days with at least 90,000 riders since the COVID-19 pandemic, eight occurred this year, according to the department.
An image of a dance party walk-on passenger at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal during the summer of 2026. (WSF)Increased summer demand, including travel associated with the FIFA World Cup, contributed to traffic and occasional delays and disruptions, the agency said.
Despite the higher demand, Washington State Ferries reported improved on-time performance.
The system’s percentage of sailings departing within 10 minutes of their scheduled time rose from 71.6% in summer 2024 to 76.7% in 2025 and 79.8% this summer.
The ferry system also completed more than 500 additional trips compared with last summer while maintaining a completed-sailings rate of about 98%, up from 97.2% in summer 2024.
The department said it continues to hire and train workers for licensed positions needed aboard vessels, a process that can take years.
It said those efforts, underway for the past three to four years, are intended to reduce crew-related cancellations and stabilize the workforce.
Washington State Ferries is also working to limit cancellations tied to vessel repairs while it awaits new ferries.
The fall-through-spring period provides more time for scheduled maintenance, but the agency said the lack of a spare vessel can affect service when maintenance takes longer than expected or unexpected repairs are needed.
The system said it would communicate disruptions in advance when possible or as quickly as possible during emergencies.
The ferry system’s peak-season surcharge for full-fare drivers and vehicles ends Sept. 30. Beginning Oct. 1, the 35% surcharge will no longer apply.
The surcharge is in effect from May 1 through Sept. 30 and does not apply to multi-ride cards.
