Ferry news

Dennis Cziske reported that Ferry Advisory Committees had been invited to Olympia to give input to the State Transportation Commission on the possible makeup of a new Tariff Policy Committee, which may or may not be created. The Ferry Advisory Committee is also talking with the ferries scheduler on the issue of schedule changes required by the Coast Guard regulations that will no longer allow the “sleep over” shift. We will lose the daily 5:10 p.m. sailing out of Edmonds and one other run, not yet determined. This will probably go into effect with the fall schedule change which is due to be published July 23.

The Transportation Commission has adopted the recommended fare increase of 2.5 percent, which will go into effect with the fall schedule change. The commission also adopted a Super Summer Surcharge of an additional 10 percent fare increase for June, July, August, and September beginning in 2010, over and above the usual summer surcharge of 25 percent. These surcharges are not included in the frequent rider coupons.

The commission is expected to schedule a hearing for the Super Surcharge sometime in September. Riders are urged to contact their legislators (see “Ferry Fare,” p. 3), particularly members of the Transportation Committee. The Web site http://leg.wa.gov/legislature has contact information.

WSF is also working on a reservation system, using the Kingston-Edmonds route as a test site. If you have thoughts on that, you can contact them at (206) 515-3400 or Washington State Ferries, 2901 Third Avenue Suite 500; Seattle WA 98121-3014.

Cliffside road realignment

Richard Dadisman, design manager with Kitsap County Public Works showed drawings and told of the plans to bring Cliffside Road up to current standards in the summer of 2010. The plan includes two 11-foot travel lanes with a 4-foot shoulder on each side. The county hopes to obtain the land to straighten out the curve on the east side and move the intersection with Little Boston Road farther east. Traffic would flow from Little Boston onto Cliffside without stopping, and traffic going east on Little Boston would have a stop sign. It will not be possible to reduce the slope of the hill on the west end, according to Dadisman. Provisions have been made to manage storm water runoff . Cliffside residents expressed serious concerns about increased speeding problems once the road is improved.

Community plan

Pete Sullivan, county Planning Department, reported on comments received at the June 28 open house at which the proposed draft Community Plan was presented to the community. The planning department is currently adding any additional comments received and will present the latest draft to the Planning Commission for their review at their regular meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Greater Hansville Community Center.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the meeting, limited to three minutes per person, with prior signup. Their meeting procedure and suggestions for effective input can be found at the county Web site. It was approved that GHAAC authorize Sullivan to proceed with the plan.

Follow-up reports

At the request of Buck Lake Road residents, Cindy McDermott had contacted the county about the possibility of putting a crosswalk on Hansville Road at Buck Lake Road. She was told that it would not be beneficial as experience has shown that traffic does not observe a crosswalk and it gives pedestrians a false sense of security in crossing.

It was also reported that the fire department had provided life vests for the use of children at Buck Lake and they were all stolen.