Operating funds for the ferry system , reliant on gas taxes raised by the state , were left out of the 1989 budget because of a dispute in the state government . As a result , the MV '' Tyee '' and two additional passenger-only ferries intended to serve Vashon Island were pulled from service in June 1989 . The three ferries were loaned to the San Francisco Bay Area after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake left the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge closed for repairs . In January 1990 , the ferries returned to the Seattle area , and began regular passenger service on April 23 , 1990
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Kitsap Fast Ferries