NEWS
(OLYMPIA)– The Washington State Transportation Commission will begin discussions at its March meeting on possible ferry fare changes later this year, pending legislative budget decisions expected by the end of April. Preparations will also advance around toll setting for three central Puget Sound toll facilities, including the Gateway project in King and Pierce counties set to begin opening in phases later this year, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transporation. The public is invited to attend the virtual meeting, which takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, and 9 a.m. to 12 (read more)
(SKAGIT COUNTY)- The next scheduled haul-out of the Guemes Island ferry will be March 15 through April 29, 2025. The Board of Skagit County Commissioners signed Resolution R20240249 on November 25, 2024 awarding the haul-out bid to Nichols Brothers Boat Builders for $1,629,837.95, according to a news release from the county. The final car ferry sailing to Guemes Island will depart Anacortes at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14th with return service to Anacortes approximately eight minutes later. Passenger-only service will begin at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 15th. There will be no late ferry service after 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14th. This is (read more)
(SKAGIT COUNTY)- Skagit County will begin accepting applications today for economic development grants to fund the construction of public facilities that retain and/or create family-wage jobs or affordable workforce housing projects, in accordance with RCW 82.14.370. The deadline for submittal is April 25, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Application materials are available at www.skagitcounty.net/budgetfinance. Entities may apply for funds for multiple projects. Skagit County anticipates approximately $4,000,000 will be available for awards to be used for economic development projects and $3,000,000 for affordable workforce housing projects, according to a news release from the county. Awards are limited to $750,000 for individual economic (read more)
(NORTHWEST WASHINGTON)- San Juan County will officially rejoin the Northwest Clean Air Agency on July 1. Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties formed the Northwest Air Pollution Authority (now NWCAA) in 1967 under authority granted by the Washington Clean Air Act. San Juan County withdrew its membership in the early 1980s, according to a news release from NWCAA. “We are so pleased to welcome San Juan County back to the Northwest Clean Air Agency,” said NWCAA Board Chair Tara Hizon of the Oak Harbor City Council. “We’re looking forward to having all of our counties working together on shared (read more)
(OLYMPIA)– The Commercial Aviation Work Group will host its first public hybrid meeting of 2025 at 11 a.m. Friday, March 7, at the Capital Event Center in Tumwater. It will be the group’s fourth meeting overall since it was created by the state Legislature in 2023. The group was formed to evaluate the long-range commercial aviation and transportation needs of the state, including alternatives for more aviation capacity and expanding the use of existing airports and multimodal opportunities, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transporation. Public comment will be available from 2:35 to 3:05 p.m. in person or (read more)