{"id":"AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-096","kind":"context","level":"state","jurisdiction":"Washington (all WSF routes)","state":"WA","metro":"","industry":"","agency":"ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT","eco":"","issuer":"Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Ferries (WSF); Assistant Secretary Amy Scarton","authority":"WSF\u0027s own attribution: \u0027Stay-at-home orders, remote work and decreased tourism because of COVID-19 are the main reasons for the system\u0027s lowest yearly count since 1975\u0027","instrument":"WSDOT news release, Jan. 12, 2021: 2020 WSF ridership down 41 percent (about 10 million riders) to roughly 14 million, the lowest since 1975; for the first time more vehicles (7.6 million) than passengers (6.4 million); walk-ons on downtown Seattle routes collapsed (Seattle/Bremerton down 64 percent; Seattle/Bainbridge down 59 percent; walk-ons down 74 percent); Sidney, B.C. route down 99 percent \u0027due to border restrictions\u0027; ridership at about 60 percent of pre-pandemic levels in recent months; sailings restored incrementally under the COVID Response Service Plan","title":"Ferry ridership at lowest level in nearly 50 years - Annual riders down 10 million from 2019 due to pandemic","dateIssued":"2021-01-12","effective":"Calendar year 2020 (statement dated Jan. 12, 2021)","end":"Not applicable (statistical statement); reduced schedules continuing in Jan. 2021","startDate":"2021-01-12","endDate":"2021-09-30","quarters":["2021Q1"],"types":["TRAV"],"addressees":["the public"],"clause":"Annual ridership aboard Washington State Ferries plunged by nearly 10 million customers in 2020 - a drop of 41% from the previous year - to roughly 14 million. Stay-at-home orders, remote work and decreased tourism because of COVID-19 are the main reasons for the system\u0027s lowest yearly count since 1975.... In recent months, state ferry ridership has returned to about 60% of pre-pandemic levels. Total vehicles are near 70% of 2019 numbers, while walk-ons are around 20% of last year.... The international route did not resume due to U.S.-Canada border restrictions.... Anacortes/Friday Harbor/Sidney, British Columbia: Total riders and vehicles both declined 99% due to border restrictions.","enforcement":"None (statistical statement)","functions":["WF commuting workforce (walk-on commuters at 20 percent of 2019 in late 2020 and early 2021)","TV travel (tourism and the international route)","CB customer access"],"notes":"Facts and circumstances: a State agency\u0027s own attribution of a 41 percent ridership collapse to \u0027stay-at-home orders, remote work and decreased tourism\u0027 and of a route\u0027s 99 percent loss to border restrictions; graded context.","sourceUrl":"https://wsdot.wa.gov/news/2021/01/12/ferry-ridership-lowest-level-nearly-50-years","snapshot":"https://web.archive.org/web/20210112170528/https://wsdot.wa.gov/news/2021/01/12/ferry-ridership-lowest-level-nearly-50-years","fileExists":true,"fileBytes":96791,"grade":"primary","character":"context","description":"","collection":"AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT","url":"/library/AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-096","exhibitUrl":"/exhibit/AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-096","citation":"Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Ferries (WSF); Assistant Secretary Amy Scarton, WSDOT news release, Jan. 12, 2021: 2020 WSF ridership down 41 percent (about 10 million riders) to roughly 14 million, the lowest since 1975; for the first time more vehicles (7.6 million) than passengers (6.4 million); walk-ons on downtown Seattle routes collapsed (Seattle/Bremerton down 64 percent; Seattle/Bainbridge down 59 percent; walk-ons down 74 percent); Sidney, B.C. route down 99 percent \u0027due to border restrictions\u0027; ridership at about 60 percent of pre-pandemic levels in recent months; sailings restored incrementally under the COVID Response Service Plan (Ex. AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-096)","stateName":"Washington","related":["AGY-ST-TRANSPORT-PORTS-TRANSIT-024"]}