The current ferry vessel in the Lummi Island Ferry System, the Whatcom Chief, is 60 years old and is in need of replacement. The Public Works Department has gone through a systematic process to identify a new ferry vessel design that meets the needs of island residents, taxpayers, vessel crew members, the environment, and required regulations.
The design method:
New Vessel Design Documents
The county submitted a RAISE Grant Application to the US Department of Transportation to modernize the Lummi Island Ferry System.
On August 9, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a $25 million RAISE grant to replace the 60-year-old Lummi Island ferry with an electric-battery hybrid ferry and build related infrastructure.
On February 21, 2017, the Whatcom County Council passed Resolution #2017-012. The resolution established new level of service (LOS) goals for the Lummi Island Ferry System.
On July 24, 2018, the Whatcom County Council passed Resolution #2018-026. The resolution adopted the Level of Service recommendation from the Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee.
The scope of this assessment is to evaluate the existing electric distribution system surrounding the proposed Lummi Island Ferry charging site(s) and to identify the planning level system improvement alternatives required to serve the estimated load(s).