Ridership on the two ferry lines serving Whidbey Island is steadily increasing, meaning that more tourists are coming to the island and that islanders are finding jobs on the mainland, said Chet Ross, president of the Greater Freeland Chamber of Commerce.

Annual ridership in 2014 on the Mukilteo-Clinton route increased by 1 percent, to 3,949,636 passengers, over the prior year, according to the chamber.

The Freeland chamber cited figures provided by the Washington State Ferries.

Ridership on the Coupeville-Port Townsend route increased by 6 percent, to 723,045, during the same period.