Temporary ferry service from the Point begins

(Ed. Note: This article includes information previously published online in an August 20  All Point Bulletin article.)

A temporary ferry service operating out of Point Roberts began Tuesday, August 25.

The Port of Bellingham started the now nce-a-week ferry service to help those stranded on Point Roberts reach the mainland for shopping, doctor visits and other necessities. It’s offered free of charge on a first-come, first-serve, advanced-reservation basis to Point Roberts residents. Whatcom Transportation Authority is providing a shuttle from Blaine Harbor to Cordata Station in Bellingham.

The Port is currently exploring the idea of increasing the frequency and having the ferry go from Point Roberts to Bellingham in the morning with a return trip in the afternoon, according to executive director Rob Fix, who says the details are still being worked out. The change would give people more time in Bellingham, he said. The ferry would overnight in Bellingham.

The Port is also developing a dedicated online reservation application; they are currently working on a jerry-rigged survey program which currently indicates that “This survey is locked.” Fix says that’s because the next sailing on Tuesday, September 1 is already fully booked. That sailing

will still be a Point Roberts to Blaine to Point Roberts roundtrip.

Fix said the Port wanted to get the service up and running and then work out the kinks instead of “working out the kinks and then getting the service running a month later,” adding that he had been surprised by the demand for passage. “To have two consecutive trips fully booked is not something we expected,” he said. The Port is also considering adding a Friday sailing as well as going to a larger ship both for capacity and in consideration of anticipated sea conditions.

Until now, Point Roberts residents have been confined to the Point, aside from essential cross-border travel, since the border closed in March.

Tom Fijal was one of about 25 Point Roberts residents who rode the ferry on Tuesday. During his trip, Fijal shopped for items he couldn’t get in Point Roberts and had a socially-distant meal with his son, who lives in Bellingham.

“I hope it continues and people are able to take advantage of it,” Fijal said.

Although this trip only serviced Point Roberts residents, Fijal said he hopes it could benefit the Point’s economy.

“Should it continue, it would be a great way to get people here again, spending money at our markets,” he said.

Ferry service is provided on San Juan Cruises’ 50-foot vessel Salish Sea and 100-foot vessel Salish Express. Face masks are required on both ferry and WTA connections, and the number of passengers is limited.

The idea for a ferry was first discussed in an August 11 Port of Bellingham meeting after Point Roberts resident Mark Robbins emailed port commissioner Bobby Briscoe asking for a solution. In the meeting, commissioners showed a committed attitude to Point residents and called for immediate action.

There are people who are concerned that the new ferry service will make ongoing negotiations with Canada on easing transit between the Point and the rest of the U.S. more difficult. “I don’t think a ferry will help with solving the land crossing issues,” said Point Roberts fire chief Christopher Carleton in an August 18 telephone interview. “It just gives Canada a chance to stonewall.”

Carleton points out that a ferry is just a temporary solution at best, given the huge expense and limited window provided by summer weather. “These are decisions being made by people who don’t know our community,” he said. Previously, Carleton spoke about the demographics of the Point being non-conducive to ferry service due to age and limited income of a significant portion of the Point’s population.

Asked if the Port of Bellingham leadership was concerned about the fears that a ferry service could jinx negotiations, Fix replied, “We reached out to the federal delegation and inquired about this affecting long term negotiations. They didn’t think it would affect the border issue and thought this was a great short term solution. The emphasis is on ‘short term solution’ because it just isn’t financially feasible to do this long term. A border solution must be found and everyone recognizes that.”

During the August 11 port meeting, Don Goldberg, director of economic development at the port and a member of the Whatcom Unified Command Border Task Force, said senior-level officials on both sides of the border were attending task force meetings.