From AOL yesterday:

SEATTLE – Gov. Bob Ferguson is intensifying his call for federal support to stabilize Washington State Ferries, warning that while the system has returned to full service levels for the first time since 2019, that progress remains “fragile.”

During a briefing at the Seattle Ferry Terminal, Ferguson emphasized that the nation’s largest ferry system cannot sustain its recent gains without a significant increase in investment from Washington, D.C.

The governor highlighted a stark disparity in how the system is funded. Currently, federal dollars account for:

• 16% of the operating budget
• 5% of the capital budget

State leaders argue these figures must rise to keep the system afloat. The push for more federal dollars comes as the state attempts to modernize the fleet with hybrid-electric technology while balancing the high costs of domestic shipbuilding.

Source: https://www.aol.com/news/aging-wa-ferry-fleet-fragile-004547004.html

The average age of a Washington State Ferry is 35 years¹ compared to only 24 for Calmac ferries.²

Washington State has a population of 8 million compared to Scotland’s 5.5 million and a much greater GDP to invest in infrastructure, of £750bn compared to only £230bn, almost 3 times as much.

Perhaps surprising, given Washington State’s far greater wealth, based on an AI calculation, it spends far less per capita subsidising its ferry service. Over the last 10 years, Scotland has spent £490 per person while Washington State has only spent £290.

So Scotland appears to spend somewhat more per capita on ferries overall. That reflects Scotland’s policy of treating many ferry routes as essential “lifeline” services for island communities.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_State_Ferries?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s189802/CalMac%2520Ferries%2520Socio%2520Economic%2520Impact%2520Phase%25202%2520Report.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com