THE EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SERVING THE BYWAY AND EXPANDING MULTI-MODAL OPTIONS FOR VISITORS & RESIDENTS 7 Washington State Ferries vessels provide passage to the San Juan Islands from the mainland several times daily. THE EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SERVING THE BYWAY AND EXPANDING MULTI-MODAL OPTIONS FOR VISITORS & RESIDENTS Transportation in the San Juan Islands has been “multi-modal” throughout history... starting with the Coast Salish peoples, people tend to arrive with cars, while choices to bring their own cars. who traditionally traveled in seafaring others come car-free and either walk or As visitation to the islands increases, canoes. Sailboats, steamboat ferries, travel by bicycle, transit, taxi, rental vehicles concerns about safety and traffic and mail boats served the islands at (cars, scooters, mopeds, etc.), boat, or congestion and related environmental the turn of the century. Today, most kayak to and from their island destinations. effects are intensifying. Most local travelers begin their journeys to the residents recognize that sustainability San Juan Islands on Washington State On-island transit/shuttle systems do not and livability in the San Juan Islands Ferries vessels originating in Anacortes, currently operate year-round and services can be maximized and enhanced by Washington or Sidney, British Columbia, are limited. With a local population encouraging visitors to leave their cars Canada. Many others come to the islands of 16,000 residents versus the annual behind when they travel to the islands. via commercial passenger ferries from influx of over one million visitors, and a By continuing to emphasize the need to Seattle, Bellingham, and Port Townsend, ferry schedule that changes seasonally, improve safety and expand multi-modal or via seaplane, airplane, or private boat. transit schedules are inconsistent. This transportation options such as transit, inconsistency in schedules and the bicycling, walking, hybrid and electric Once travelers arrive on land, multiple general lack of knowledge about the cars, scooters, and other small non- or transportation options are available. Most availability of transit influences travelers’ low-carbon-emitting transport vehicles, C ORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN 7-1 THE EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SERVING THE BYWAY AND EXPANDING MULTI-MODAL OPTIONS FOR VISITORS & RESIDENTS Expanding Multi-Modal Transportation Options and Enhancing Safety for All Travelers The vision for transportation in the Canoe Journey participants San Juan Islands calls for expansion of multi- traffic congestion and environmental modal transportation impacts can be reduced, and the quiet, Transportation options for visitors as well rural quality of life can be maintained. as residents. Expanded History transit services, improved This section of the corridor management The Coast Salish tribes traveled via canoes bicycling and walking plan provides: throughout the Salish Sea and its tributaries. facilities, and increased • a description of the transportation This was the earliest form of transportation provision of hybrid history of the islands around the region. Throughout history, Coast Salish peoples have been known for • a summary of existing multi- and electric transport their excellent seafaring skills and mastery modal transportation facilities and vehicles for rent are of the currents and waves. Their sleek, conditions along the byway all actions that, along dugout canoes, carefully crafted from red with promotion of the • a description of the byway’s cedar trees from the surrounding forests, relationship to the regional opportunity for a “car-free generally range from 14 to 26 feet in transportation network length. Tribes of the region continue the vacation,” will enhance • an assessment of multi-modal tradition of canoe-making and seafaring, sustainability and transportation needs and celebrating this important aspect of their livability in the islands. recommendations for expanded culture through events such as the annual services and improvement Canoe Journey held each summer. 7-2 SAN JUAN ISLANDS SCENIC BYWAY THE EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SERVING THE BYWAY AND EXPANDING MULTI-MODAL OPTIONS FOR VISITORS & RESIDENTS With European and American settlement With the exception of a few commercial in the late 1800s and early 1900s, foot-ferry tour services, the Washington primary transportation to and from the State Ferries system is the primary marine islands continued to be water-based, passage provider to the islands today, and this is still the case today with the with terminals at Lopez, Shaw, Orcas ferry service provided by Washington and San Juan Islands. State Ferries. The first military troops and settlers arrived by sailing ships. In the early days of settlement, the rocky People continued to use canoes and and forested island terrain made travel small rowboats to travel from village to difficult. There were no roads, and it was village in the early days. Settlements grew easier to sail, row a boat, or paddle a slowly until improved steamship routes canoe from place to place than to walk and increased commerce began to bring over trails and paths. Thus, many of the more tourists to the islands. Steamship earliest settlements were water-oriented, service began in the late 1800s and most located along the shore. The earliest communities had constructed wharfs forms of land travel on the islands were and were regularly served by wood-fired by foot, horseback, and eventually by steamships by 1900. horse and wagon. The first car ferry service between On San Juan Island, the Royal Marines Anacortes, Washington and Sidney, constructed a road to travel between British Columbia, Canada was the American and English Camps during the privately operated Harvester King, joint military occupation of 1859-1872. which carried vehicles and passengers The road followed the path of a sheep from the mainland. This initial service run cleared by Hudson's Bay Company was considered to be experimental. and Cowichan laborers from Vancouver Eventually, the Puget Sound Navigation Island. The British troops installed rip-rap Company Black Ball Line took over rock to reinforce the road. Segments of the ferry service, operating for 30 years rip-rap and wheel ruts from the wagons until a dispute ended with the State of that once traveled the route are still visible Washington assuming control in 1951. along portions of the road today. Historic Black Ball Ferry advertisement C ORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN 7-3 THE EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SERVING THE BYWAY AND EXPANDING MULTI-MODAL OPTIONS FOR VISITORS & RESIDENTS "The military road, in essence, captures the period before the US took formal possession of San Juan Island when the boundary dispute was resolved," National Park historian Mike Vouri has said. "Not only did the road symbolize peacekeeping, it tied one end of the island with the other. This is very much a part of the island's heritage." In addition to the military routes on San Juan Island, roads within and near settlements on both islands were the first to be developed. Settlers eventually began to develop rough cart tracks, and loggers made skid roads to move timber to the water or mill. Outlying areas remained undeveloped, and it was a long time before villages were fully connected by land. When roads did exist between villages, they were often very rough or impassible particularly after it rained or snowed. On Orcas Island in the early 1890s, there was still no road connecting Olga and Eastsound until local citizens Historic photo of the Paul Bridge on the road to Mount Constitution petitioned the county for funds to build a road around Cascade Lake to facilitate wagon passage between the two villages. Road construction continued in piece-meal fashion throughout the late 1800s and the 1900s. Robert Moran designed and built roads, trails, and bridges in Moran State Park, which became Washington’s first state park. The road up to Mount Constitution was originally constructed in 1894, a major feat in those days. The road to the top was a large attraction for mainland visitors, who came to see the famous view. It took several hours to make the wagon trip up the mountain and back, requiring “steady nerves and calm horses.” The road was later paved in 1933. By the 1940s, travel by air to the islands became available through small commercial air services such as Island Sky Ferries and Orcas Island Air Service, the first commuter airline on the West Coast. Robert Moran and family at dedication of the road to Mount Constitution Today, seaplanes and airplanes service the island regularly. 7-4 SAN JUAN ISLANDS SCENIC BYWAY THE EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SERVING THE BYWAY AND EXPANDING MULTI-MODAL OPTIONS FOR VISITORS & RESIDENTS Hundreds of people attended a celebration at Rosario to dedicate the paved road to the top of Mount Constitution in 1933. C ORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PLAN 7-5 THE EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SERVING THE BYWAY AND EXPANDING MULTI-MODAL OPTIONS FOR VISITORS & RESIDENTS San Juan ISlandS tranSportatIon tImelIne This timeline highlights elements of the • Mid- to Late 1800s – Settlers traveled • 1906 – The ferry City of Angeles San Juan Islands’ transportation history. by various means, but most villages was built as a passenger steamer. • For thousands of years – Coast were oriented to the shore and water Its Anacortes-Sidney route initially Salish peoples traveled the waters passage from village to village was the stopped at Roche Harbor on San of the Salish Sea in canoes, dugout predominant form of transportation. Juan Island. and carved from red cedars. • 1889 – The Puget Sound Navigation • 1912 – The first automobile trip by • Mid-1800s – Military troops on San Company was formed by Charles a 1910 Model T occurred on Orcas Juan Island constructed roads in the E. Peabody, whose family originated Island, climbing all the way to the top American and English Camps, and the the Black Ball Line on the East of Mount Constitution. Royal Marines built a military route Coast. Service began as a steamer • 1926 – The Black Ball Line added connecting the two encampments.