Estimating Lummi Island’s population growth over the next few decades is an important part of planning to replace the Whatcom Chief with an appropriately sized vessel, which will have a life span of at least 60 years. (Whether anyone thinks the population “should” grow, shrink or stay the same is irrelevant. There are many empty lots that owners have every legal right to build on – whether to live in full or part time, or rent out short or long term, or ‘just for the investment.’).
PLIC-White-Paper-2-Population-Projections (from Protect Lummi Island Community) briefly summarizes the planning consultant’s best guesses about how the population will change. These predictions are part of what’s needed to decide how to ‘right size’ the new vessel, though other factors also are important.
Lummi Island Ferry Forum 