Transportation & Climate Change in the San Juan Islands

by Isara Greacen, Climate Communications Intern at LCLT

 

Transportation is a unique and multifaceted system that both shapes and is shaped by our environment. In the San Juan islands, our choices in transportation—ranging from the state run ferry system and personal boat use to cars, bikes, public transport, and walking—play a significant role in contributing to climate change. According to the 2023 San Juan County Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Baseline Report, transportation is the single largest contributor to GHG emissions in our county, producing an estimated 113,602 metric tons of CO2 or 36% of our total GHG emissions, in large part due to diesel operated ferries. As San Juan County Policy & Regional Initiatives Manager, Grant Carlton explains “Climate and transportation are inextricably linked, they are a two-way street. You can’t think about transportation in this day and age without thinking about the impacts of climate.” 

County councilmember Jane Fuller explains that significant emissions in our county comes from “the diesel-powered Washington State Ferries and gas-powered modes of transportation, including motorboats.” Aviation and maritime activities, especially from yachts and motorboats, also contribute to air, water, and noise pollution, impacting both human and wildlife health. 

Climate educator and board member of the Madrona Institute, Nikyta Palmisani emphasizes, “Aviation is another large emitter but is not currently captured in our county’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory as most fuel is purchased off island.”

In turn, climate change threatens our transportation infrastructure, particularly with sea-level rise and increased storm activity affecting shoreline roads and ferry operations. Fuller notes, “The county’s public works department estimates that approximately 13 miles of county roads are at risk because of increased sea levels which is worsening year by year.” World-wide, communities are experiencing increased intensity and frequency of major weather events including severe storms and heightened precipitation. 

“Severe rainstorms experienced in the county in recent years have washed out roadways when culverts fail due to heavy rainfall and rendered some roads impassable,” adds Fuller.

 The ferry system, which is crucial to our community, faces potential disruptions from rising sea levels and increased storm activity due to climate change. High winds and rough seas could make crossings dangerous or impossible, while rising water levels may necessitate extensive modifications to docks and harbor facilities. These disruptions would impact both local residents and the tourism industry, significantly affecting the islands’ economy.

The county is making strides towards sustainable transportation. The growing popularity of electric bikes reflect a growing commitment to more sustainable modes of transportation. Public transportation is also evolving little by little, with services like Island Rides providing a valuable, environmentally-friendly alternative. 

Jay Kimball, climate and sustainability consultant wrote in the Orcasonian, “No Uber/Lyft service is currently available in San Juan County, but we have Island Rides, an excellent free EV-based transportation service primarily serving vulnerable locals.” The service also delivers groceries, prepared meals, medical  prescriptions, and more directly to people’s homes. There are also plans to introduce hybrid-electric ferries by 2028, which would be a significant step towards reducing maritime transportation emissions. 

An example of what has been done at a community level is the Lopez Community Land Trust (LCLT)’s car-share electric vehicle (EV) initiative. Funded by a Washington State Department of Transportation grant covering the majority of the electric vehicle purchase, charging stations, along with some insurance, and program administration costs, the project’s goals include increasing transportation accessibility, reducing car ownership costs, lowering the number of gas-powered vehicles, and reducing carbon emissions. The EV, with a range sufficient for a round trip to Seattle, is shared among 12 households, with room to accept more. 

On a policy level, the county is currently in the process of updating our comprehensive plan set to be completed in mid-2025, to integrate climate as a new element required by recent state law changes. Fuller explains that “the county has the opportunity to look at our transportation issues and challenges in a more holistic manner and plan for multi-modal transit options that can reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuels generated through gas powered vehicles, and at the same time identify ways to adapt and become more resilient in the face of further changes in our climate that intersect with our transportation system.” 

Carlton seconds this by adding, “There are climate components in the transportation plan now, but I think we need to really bridge the gap between transportation and climate as we revamp that comprehensive plan.” The county does “a really good job keeping our roads functional. Our public works department does a great job at making sure the potholes are filled in and that the culverts don’t wash out, but transportation is so much more than just that,” Carlton notes. His hope and vision for the future of transportation in the county “is that we can really look at transportation holistically and have a comprehensive system that utilizes new technologies and more progressive tools for transportation.” 

While we are taking steps in the right direction, there is still much to be done. One important step towards improvement is a movement towards electrifying modes of transport that currently rely on burning fossil fuels. 

Palmisani argues that “a rapid move towards electrifying everything” will have “many positive effects: reducing climate change by decreasing carbon emissions, reducing air pollution, increasing human and ecological health and well being, increasing energy independence and resilience provided we can invest in renewable local sources of energy.” 

San Juan County is one of the only counties in the state without a road-based public transportation service. Creating a comprehensive public transportation system is vital. Kimball highlights that “substantial funds and grants are available from state and federal sources to help our county transition to cleaner transportation solutions.” He advocates for the testing of a free electric shuttle bus service on one of the islands which operates on a regular, predictable schedule as a way to provide a convenient option for those unable to drive, such as teens and seniors. It could also simultaneously support low-income residents by reducing the financial burden of car ownership and create new employment opportunities in the county. 

Ande Finley from Transition Lopez supports setting up “reliable and safe public transit options,” like shuttles, rideshare, and bike rentals to persuade residents and visitors to leave their cars behind. She also emphasizes the results of a transportation survey conducted by Transition Lopez which revealed strong community support for public transportation including how: “More than half of short term visitors would leave their cars in Anacortes if parking was affordable and safe and reliable public transportation was available on Lopez” and “When traveling off-island, over 60% of Lopez residents would leave their car behind if a combination of reliable public transportation and rental bicycles were available.” This could be a vital step as encouraging visitors to use walk-on ferry options instead of driving could alleviate pressure on the ferry system and reduce emissions from visitor vehicles, which currently account for a substantial portion of the county’s transportation emissions.

Encouraging biking and walking through safe infrastructure investments also promotes healthier, carbon-free travel options. Carlton supports pedestrian and bike travel as “a great way to reduce our carbon footprint and make our roads safer. It’s great for people to be out in nature, to connect with their neighbors, to walk and leave their cars at home.” Palmisani also sees health benefits of walking and biking “with an aging population we know how important cardiovascular health is.”

To inspire more foot travel Kirm Taylor, co-founder of the Lopez Community Trails Network (LCTN), supports creating walking trails . LCTN was founded with the “aim of connecting places on Lopez with walking trails.” Taylor hopes that one day the creation of trail networks will enable people to walk from the ferry to the Lopez village and beyond. But this is only possible if landowners are willing to cooperate.

Another challenge to implementing transportation solutions is reaching community consensus. Public works director Colin Huntemer thinks,“Often one of the biggest challenges we face is getting constructive agreement on the problems we are facing as a community.” He calls for depoliticizing the issue, saying, “Fundamentally, transportation is about moving people and goods safely. When the challenge is reduced to its engineering principles, we have the greatest chance of success.” 

Grant Carlton notes another challenge: community inertia. “With being a very tight-knit community and being very comfortable with what we have, I think that comfort comes with at times a bit of lack of looking forward. We’re comfortable now, so we kind of can rest easy and not take a really hard look at what the future might hold.” He acknowledges that while resistance to change is part of what makes the San Juans unique and special, it also hinders the adoption of new technologies and solutions to reduce our climate footprint and improve transportation. 

“It’s important to have those conversations, be open, and receptive to shifts in the transportation and climate landscape,” says Carlton.

“I have great confidence that we can implement the necessary changes rapidly and avoid the worst of ongoing extreme weather events,” Palmisani shares her hopeful vision, “I can imagine a resilient transportation future where everyone has a safe, clean, and quiet ride home, the skies are blue, the air continues to be fresh and clean, and our human and wildlife communities are healthy and thriving.”

 

Isara Greacen is a Climate Communications Intern for the Lopez Community Land Trust. She grew up on Lopez Island and now attends Scripps College.