Ferry service begins for stranded Point Roberts residents

A temporary ferry service operating between Point Roberts and Blaine began August 25.

The Port of Bellingham started the once-a-week ferry service to help those stranded on Point Roberts and unable to cross the Canadian border. 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.

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, August 25. 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 his town’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, port executive director Rob 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.

Governor Jay Inslee was asked if he had heard from Whatcom County and Point Roberts about the problems faced by Point Roberts during a media briefing held August 20. “I have not spoken to those communities and I probably should listen to see if they have any ideas,” Inslee replied.

“We’re at the mercy of the federal governments on both sides of the border largely on this. You raise something that I should look into and I will ask them if they have any creative ideas.” After pausing, Inslee carried on, saying, “I was just told that our staff has talked to them although I have not done so personally.

“The last time I spoke to the British Columbia leadership we could not think of a way to solve this problem. That was two or three weeks ago. At the moment, I don’t have a solution but we should all try to find one,” he concluded.

A day later, Inslee sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on August 21 asking Trudeau for help finding a solution for Point Roberts residents. Trudeau had yet to respond to the letter by press time.