The fate of an effort to bring the fourth and final 144-car ferry to South Whidbey remains unknown.

Ray Deardorf, planning director for Washington State Ferries, said Tuesday that agency officials have discussed where to home port the Suquamish but have yet to make a decision. He could not say when that might occur, but indicated it won’t be long.

“We need to do it fairly soon,” Deardorf said.

The agency is looking at system-wide needs first, but Deardorf said several routes are in the running for the new boat.

Commuters and Clinton leaders say ferry lines this summer were the worst in recent memory. The Clinton Community Council led an effort to get the new ferry.