Ferry ridership has already increased 35 percent, carrying over 23,000 vehicles, since the addition of a second ferry, the Salish, to the Coupeville-Port Townsend run on July 1.

Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-10th District, and ferry advocates from Coupeville and Port Townsend fought hard to add the Salish, believing the island community deserved the transportation access and that it would boost tourism and local business.

“There was a proposal to limit Coupeville-Port Townsend service to a single run, via the Chetzemoka last year, which I strongly disagreed with,” said Haugen in a news release. “The people of this area deserve reliable service, and I made sure full service to this route was restored in the 2011-13 transportation budget. Our ferries are our marine highways and are just as vital to our communities as asphalt highways are to inland communities across the state. There was no way I was going to settle for less than the full service our commuters and businesses depend on.“The 35 percent increase in ridership proves adding the Salish ferry was a smart move.”