Transportation / Lummi Island · Countywide
County secures $25 million agreement for Lummi Island ferry replacement
The county expects terminal bidding in November and vessel bidding in January, with the replacement ferry projected to enter service in 2029.
Whatcom County has finalized a $25 million federal grant agreement for replacement of the Whatcom Chief and improvements to the Lummi Island ferry system, according to a September 17 county announcement.
The county says the federal grant accounts for half of the project’s funding. Washington state has also provided $5.3 million for design and environmental compliance. The federal award dates to 2022; the new development is the finalized agreement allowing eligible project spending to be reimbursed.
Public Works expects to seek terminal construction bids in November 2026 and ferry construction bids in January 2027. The county projects that shipbuilding will begin in early 2027 and the new vessel will enter service by March 2029. Terminal work is expected to start in June 2027 and last about two years.
Those are the county’s projected dates, not completed milestones. The vessel design allows a future conversion to electric power.
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Whatcom County Public Works →Source publication: Sep 17, 2026
Source checked: Sep 20, 2026
Brief prepared: Sep 20, 2026
This AI-assisted brief summarizes the linked public material. It is not based on an independent interview or on-scene reporting.