A smart investment in Oregon's future: the Frog Ferry
A view of the Willamette River in Portland. The Frog Ferry would have up to nine stops for passengers from Oregon City to Vancouver. (Photo by Lynne Terry/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
As Oregon legislators craft this year's transportation package, there's one project that deserves serious attention because it makes good sense. The Frog Ferry is ready to launch, and it's a commonsense transportation alternative.
To be clear, the Frog Ferry wouldn't stop in my rural community in Pendleton, Oregon. But I served as the executive director for the Port of Portland and the director and CEO of the Washington State Ferry System, and I've learned a lot about what it takes to move people and goods efficiently.
I also understand the importance of making smart transportation investments. This isn't about Portland vs. the rest of Oregon — it's about recognizing innovative solutions that work for the whole state. The Frog Ferry has the potential to ease congestion, drive economic activity, and connect our region more efficiently using infrastructure that already exists — our rivers.
Earth Day is this week. As we reflect on how to build a more sustainable future, it's worth asking: what if our waterways could once again become part of the solution? The Willamette River is underutilized as a transportation corridor.
By tapping into it, we're not only addressing our traffic woes, we're taking meaningful steps to reduce carbon emissions, shrink our environmental footprint, and promote a cleaner commute. Ferry service offers a low-emission, high-efficiency way to get people where they need to go — and it helps us meet climate goals without reinventing the wheel.
We've all heard the frustration: the system is strained. Our roads are clogged. Productivity is lost every day in traffic. That's not just an urban inconvenience — it's a statewide drag on our economy. If there's a solution that can relieve pressure on Interstate 5 and Interstate 84, support our workforce, and strengthen regional connections, we owe it to Oregonians to explore it.
The Frog Ferry team has done the groundwork. They've secured federal interest, completed feasibility studies, and built strong public-private partnerships. The vision is clear: a passenger ferry service that connects commuters and tourists to downtown Portland while bypassing the worst traffic choke points. And crucially, this isn't just a local amenity. A functioning ferry system in the Portland metro area reinforces the entire state's economic engine and resilience.
Having led similar initiatives in Washington, I can say with confidence that our neighbors to the north are scratching their heads as to why Oregon hasn't moved forward on such a common-sense idea. Nationally recognized ferry experts are cheering this on — and so should we. We cannot afford to keep doing the same things and expect different results. It's time to embrace forward-thinking solutions like the Frog Ferry.
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