Rep. Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, had sharp criticism for a plan released Thursday morning by Gov. Christine Gregoire that would create a regional ferry district to run Washington State Ferries.
“For years,” Angel said, “legislators in districts served by the state’s ferry system have fought to ensure it remains an integral part of our entire transportation infrastructure. People who live on islands and peninsulas served by Washington State Ferries depend on this marine highway system for their jobs and the economic viability of local communities. “We’ve worked hard to keep ferries on the same priority level for service and funding as our other highways and bridges across the state,” she continued, “and legislators from these districts have provided influential voices for constituents who rely on these boats.
“Our ferry system should never be treated like a forgotten step-child of transportation,” Angel said, “yet the governor’s plan would send it off as if the Legislature and the Executive Branch want nothing more to do with it. That’s not the way to show the leadership needed in solving the problems facing our state’s ferry system.”
Gregoire proposed removing Washington State Ferries from the state Department of Transportation and placing it under the oversight and administration of a new regional taxing authority.
The ferry district would include all eight Western Washington counties now served by the ferry system.
A district board would be elected from areas near current ferry routes and at-large members would be appointed by the governor.
The ferry district would be given local taxing authority. The state would still provide an ongoing subsidy of the system.
Angel, whose 26th District has the highest percentage in the nation of ferry commuters in its workforce, said if the governor’s plan is adopted, local residents within the regional ferry district would likely be paying substantially higher fees, fares and taxes to fund ferry services.
“Other than proposals for tolls on the Tacoma Narrows and 520 bridges and replacement of the viaduct,” she said, “the state is not asking people who drive on our highways to pay more to keep our roads and bridges open. Yet, ferries continue to be mistakenly viewed as a separate entity and not a part of our highway system.”
Under Gregoire’s plan, Angel noted, “the governor would continue making that mistake, effectively fragmenting our entire transportation infrastructure system, giving a new board the ability to increase taxes in this proposed regional ferry district.”
In addition, Angel said, the governor removes herself and the Legislature from public accountability in the process.
“She’s telling our folks, ‘Here’s the taxpayers’ money from the state. We’re not responsible and if you want more services, tax yourselves more.’ It’s discriminatory and places an unfair burden on those who rely on ferries as a primary transportation route.”
Angel said the governor is correct in reviewing the governance of ferries, but she should not be seeking to fracture it from the state’s entire highway system.
“I’m very disappointed that instead of looking for realistic solutions that bring all of us together to work on ferry governance, she wants to pass the buck to a new board and sweep it off her plate,” Angel said. “We all realize reforms are needed within the ferry system to bring costs down, increase efficiency and improve service. But this plan would remove legislative accountability and hold ferry users hostage to higher taxes if they want to keep the services. That’s not the kind of reform we need.”
