Transportation Commission Office – PO Box 47308 – Olympia, WA 98504-7308 – 360-705-7070
Contact: Reema Griffith, WSTC executive director, 360-705-7070 (Olympia)
OLYMPIA – Six possible names are being considered for Washington state’s next new ferry and the public is being asked to help decide. The Washington State Transportation Commission has legal authority for naming state highways, bridges and ferries in Washington and is putting forth the names for further consideration and public input. The selected name will be given to the state’s next new ferry, which will be a 144-car, hybrid-electric Olympic Class ferry.
The commission received 19 eligible name proposals that met its naming guidelines and requirements. After further review and consideration, the pool was reduced to six finalists which will advance for public input. The six names are:
- Wishkah
- Stillaguamish
- Snoqualmie
- Enie Marie
- Stehekin
- Muckleshoot
The commission’s process for gathering public input on the pool of six names includes the following:
- The list of names is posted on the commission’s website and the public can provide comment online until Tuesday, Nov. 30.
- Washington State Ferries and members representing each Ferry Advisory Committee for all ferry-served communities will review the list of names and provide input.
- Members of the 20,000-plus Ferry Riders Opinion Group (FROG) survey panel will be asked via an online survey to consider all six names and indicate their preference. Anyone can become a member of the commission’s FROG survey panel; joining is fast and easy.
The commission will consider the input gathered from these outreach efforts in making a final name decision at its Tuesday, Dec. 14, meeting.
Free, temporary internet access is available to those who do not have broadband service in locations throughout the state. To find the nearest Drive-In WiFi Hotspot visit: www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/washington-state-drive-in-wifi-hotspots-location-finder/.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information: Individuals requiring reasonable accommodations may request written materials in alternate formats, sign language interpreters, physical accessibility accommodations, or other reasonable accommodations by the Commission Office at (360) 705-7070 or Transc@wstc.wa.gov. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact the event sponsor through the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1.
Title VI Notice to Public
It is the Washington State Transportation Commission’s (WSTC) policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its programs and activities. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated, may file a complaint with WSDOT’s Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). For additional information regarding Title VI complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations, please contact OEO’s Title VI Coordinator 360-705-7090.