Fast ferries back on course with hiring of new marine director

After some early challenges, Kitsap Transit’s fast-ferries system should see a rapid improvement from the minor setbacks that have troubled the system since the first sailings in July.

Beginning with its start early last year, monthly reservation system problems, mechanical issues, communications failures and the inability to establish an operating agreement with King County as pledged have rankled fast-ferry riders and cast some doubt among critics about Kitsap Transit’s ability to implement the new system.

These rough waters should be quickly behind us with the hiring of a new marine director, Darrell Bryan, the former CEO of the Victoria Clipper. Darrell brings the expertise, relationships with key marine transportation leaders and operators, and universal respect from throughout this specialized industry.

We can vouch for this first-hand — as we’ve continued to explore how best to support fast ferries over this last year, our meetings have included discussions with marine transportation veterans from New York to San Francisco to Canada and beyond. All have shared confidence in Darrell’s abilities and expertise.

Word of his role to help right the ship beginning last fall was resoundingly endorsed by those who have worked with and for Bryan over his long and successful career. We’re fortunate that he’s willing and available at this crucial time. It remains puzzling that he wasn’t offered this job last year — he was an applicant, but surprisingly didn’t make the final cut.

That’s all “water under the bridge” now, and we should expect quick and decisive measures to resolve the most pressing issues facing Kitsap Transit, with the hope that the issues troubling the fast ferry last year will be long forgotten as reliable sailings, backup boats, a functional reservation system and operations of our new routes become the norm.

The good news has always been that the voter-approved fast-ferry plan offers substantial benefits and opportunities for all of Kitsap. There will always be problems and issues for a new system beginning at “ground zero” that requires building new infrastructure, staff and operations.

Kitsap Transit has been criticized for starting too soon, setting sail with the Bremerton run just months after the system was approved. But we give them much credit for this and appreciate their commitment to providing a valuable service for riders of the Rich Passage on sailings that thousands now enjoy.

Revenues began to be disbursed last April, and Kitsap Transit moved promptly to provide taxpayers with sailings in July instead of waiting for another year. This move increased the risk of canceled sailings without a backup boat available, which was a frustrating problem during the first few months of service, but it was the right move.

Even including those now-resolved mechanical issues that plagued the system last summer, sailing reliability is at 92 percent. We expect that number to inch closer to 100 percent with Darrell Bryan in charge and an operating agreement with King County that will provide a backup boat.

Kitsap Transit critics and fast ferry opponents have expressed some doubt about the agency’s ability to competently fulfill the planned system. There may have been some valid reasons for these concerns: Kitsap Transit’s resistance to including the operations of the Bremerton run in their discussions with King County and the unfortunate setbacks of the reservation system that has pushed even the most supportive and committed riders to the edge of their patience. But these issues have been addressed and should now be quickly resolved with the fine work done by Bryan to identify a course of action and his subsequent hiring as marine director.

Much credit and thanks should be extended to the Kitsap Transit board for its decisive action, first for creating an ad hoc committee last fall to retain and direct Bryan’s thorough examination of the fast ferry system. Their unanimous acceptance of the findings, recommendations and direction to the Kitsap Transit director to implement the priority action items.

We’re breathing a big sigh of relief with the developments of these last few months and are confident that smoother waters lie ahead. With Darrell Bryan at the helm and the renewed vigilance of the Kitsap Transit board to make certain that the marine director is empowered to do what is necessary, the fast ferry system is back on course.

There will be new challenges and issues to resolve as the system expands, but strong and experienced leadership should give us all confidence that we’re prepared for what comes. We should expect the continued implementation and growth of the efficient and reliable fast ferry system that Kitsap deserves.

— Steve Sego operates Waterman Mitigation Partners, serves on the board of Great Peninsula Conservancy and was chairman of the Friends of the Fast Ferry campaign that helped pass the voter-approved fast-ferry funding in 2016. Wes Larson is CEO of Sound West Group, a regional developer and manager of numerous residential commercial and retail projects in Kitsap, including Quincy Square in downtown Bremerton. Larson also was co-chair of Friends of the Fast Ferry campaign.