For the last two weekends in March, the Clinton ferry will be coming down to Edmonds instead of going to Mukilteo. Expect Pine Street in Edmonds to be closed and — as there will be holding lanes set aside for Clinton traffic — expect longer lines on State Route 104. Then there’s a risk for the unwary of getting on the wrong boat.
WARNING: Reading beyond this point will expose you to the neferryous goings-on in Olympia.
First salvos
Gov. Chris Gregiore opened the 2011 legislative session by declaring “We got nooooo money ,Honey!” (my paraphrase). Then, taking a page from Inspector Renault in the movie “Cassablanca” she proclaimed that, after 50 years, the state can longer tolerate “bailing out the ferry system.”
The Department of Transportation kicks in a shocking $30 million per year to keep the ferries running and another $60 million per year to replace old ones. The governor wants to eliminate this support for ferries and make up the difference with: a 10 percent fare increase this year followed by 2.5 percent increases after that (trust us), cutting sailings, mothballing a ferry and charging counties a ferry tax.
This indignant proclamation left legislators incredulous that ferry costs, at 3 percent of DOT’s $2 billion per year budget, were a big problem while the $2 billion for the viaduct and $2.5 billion for the 520 bridge were not. We’ve earned the sympathy of eastern Washington legislators who also can see Madam Defarge singling out their necks for the guillotine.
Operating cash
Riders now pay 70 percent of ferry operating costs (in contrast, viaduct tolls will pay less that 13 percent). The remaining 30 percent is split evenly between dedicated ferry taxes ($30 million per year) and discretionary gas tax money ($31 million per year).
Convinced that WSF can balance the books without service cuts or a 10 percent fare hike, legislators have put forward a bill giving WSF management two years to figure this out or be replaced with management that can.
Building boats
The plan to build another 64-car ferry for Port Townsend and one to replace the Rhododendron at Point Defiance is on track. What’s in question is building a 144-car ferry to replace the Evergreen State when she turns 60 in 2014. The solution lies in finding state and federal money and reducing the boat’s $105 million price tag.
The Legislature is looking at a 5 to 25 cent ticket surcharge and the elimination of the Oregon residents sales tax exemption. It’s also possible to revive last year’s proposal to restore the tax on the refined oil products that are shipped out of the state, mostly Anacortes.
Legislation to reducing construction costs and qualify for federal support will be up against the shipbuilders and labor unions.
Ferry fares
Hearing rumbles of $4 per gallon gas prices, eyes are twinkling under green WSF eyeshades over a fuel surcharge.As proposed the surcharge would be an unfair, complex mess. Fuel price hedging, where the price is guaranteed, is a far better solution.
The hedging fees could be paid or by the $6 million in state sales taxes ferry riders pay on ferry fuel.
Ferry reform
The solution for “bailing out ferries” isn’t higher and higher fares paying for less and less service. Expert panels and studies have come up with lots of ways to fix the way our ferries work and cut costs and.
What remains is legislation to make this happen. Rep. Sherry Appleton, D–Poulsbo, and Christine Rolfes, D–Bainbridge Island, have proposed a WSF Board of Directors who can do this. There’s also legislation to fairly tackle labor costs which are the big driver of WSF’s operating costs.
One stop shop
For our comprehensive five-page magnum opus on what can be done about our ferries, e–mail me at elliottmore@comcast.net.
