In an effort to control ferry line backups, officials plan to someday institute a reservation system for the Port Townsend/Keystone ferry route.

When that will happen is an unanswered question because the ferry system doesn’t have any money set aside to fund the reservation program.

The Washington State Transportation Commission considered, but ultimately rejected, instituting reservation fees for a pilot reservation program for the ferry route.

Officials want a fee for reservations because it will help eliminate no-shows for ferry runs.

“The department considers a reservation system to be a premium service and feels there should be a fee associated with this type of service,” said ferry Director of Operations Traci Brewer-Rogstad in a news release. “Our experience with reservation programs without an attached fee or discount is that there are too many no-shows. With constrained terminals and little room to stage waiting vehicles, it renders the program unworkable.”

Hadley Greene, community relations manager for Washington State Ferries, said that staff is moving forward with planning for a reservation system, but they have to find funding for the pilot program.

Currently the Anacortes/Sydney B.C. route is the only one in the ferry system that offers a reservation system.

The idea for implementing a similar system at Keystone grew out of comments made by residents regarding terminal renovation projects, Greene said.

Some residents want a reservation as a way to prevent lineups from occurring on the streets near the terminal.

Green said the Keystone/Port Townsend route was chosen because it is mostly a recreational route that is used by tourists.

Ferry officials hope to have funding available to introduce the a pilot reservation system next year.