02/20/2006: "Additional 6% Ferry Increase Proposed by WSF"

By Alex MacLeod

The proposal to increase ferry fares another 6% this May will be the subject of a public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 23 from meeting is scheduled for Orcas Island at the Orcas Center from 2-3:30 p.m. followed by a second meeting from.5:30-7 p.m. at the Mullis Senior Center.

This proposed increase is one of a string of planned 6% annual increases through 2009 that are at the heart of Washington State Ferries' current financial plan. For anyone traveling by ferry from Anacortes to Friday Harbor, WSF's plan would increase the cost of a frequent-user discount ticket book to $164.80 in 2009 from today's $130.50, or a little over 26%. Single car-driver Wednesday-through-Saturday tickets would rise to $44 from $34.80, and to $59.45 from $47 in "peak season."

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This year's proposed increase, as well as those planned for the three subsequent years, reflect the continuing shift of paying for the state ferry system from the state to ferry riders that was prompted by the legislature's 2001 elimination of the motor vehicle excise tax (MVET) in the wake of Initiative 695. To offset the drastic drop in state tax support, ferry service was cut and fares increased. Ferry users now are expected to cover most of the cost of operating the ferry system and also contribute to WSF's capital budget.

The impact of that shift is obvious in the change in ferry fares over the past decade. Measured from 1999 through the planned increases of 2009, Friday Harbor car-driver discount ticket books will have risen 132%, while individual car-driver tickets will have gone up 148%, and increased > 167% in > peak season.

Travelers to the other San Juan islands, as well as all other routes of the ferry system, face similar increases under this financial plan, which WSF officials will present at the hearing. While WSF has benefited from historically low inflation through most of that decade, the last two years have seen sharp -- and unbudgeted -- fuel cost increases. Rather than pass those costs directly to users through additional fare surcharges, the legislature shifted money set aside for new ferry construction and other capital projects to pay for the fuel cost-overruns. As a result, a large part of the planned future fare increases will go toward replenishing the capital budget rather than increased service.

It is well worth everyone's time to understand not just this year's proposed fare increase, but also what the future holds if nothing changes. It was obvious from last year's public opposition to the proposed changes in the discount ticket books that the cost of ferry service is beginning to impact many people. At the same time, WSF is stuck between a proverbial rock and a hard place, with the legislature having eliminated virtually all state > support for the ferry system and demanding that ferry users pay virtually all operating and capital costs to keep the system afloat.

Because we are utterly dependent on ferry service, its future and who pays for it are critically important. Understanding the plan and what it is based on is essential to finding a way to change it.

Alex MacLeod is the Chairman of the County Ferry Advisory Committee

PRESS RELEASE INFORMATION FROM WSF

Elements of the proposal would go into effect on May 1, 2006. These would include:

• General Fare Increase: A one-year general fare increase of 6% plus nickel rounding, effective May 1, is suggested, consistent with the ferries strategic financial plan developed and approved by the Transportation Commission in 2002.

• Continue to Phase in Tariff Route Equity: (distance-based fares) on San Juan Inter-island and oversize vehicles Anacortes/Friday Harbor: Fares on the San Juan inter-island route and oversized vehicles on the Anacortes to Friday Harbor route continue to be phased into the appropriate Trip Route Equity/cube relationship with an extra 5% above the general fare increase. Inter-island phase in will continue until May 2009 and Anacortes/Friday Harbor oversize vehicle phase in will continue until May 2007.

• Motorcycles: The proposal also recommends changing the standard vehicle to motorcycle fare ratio from 5 to 1 to 4 to 1 (calculated on the vehicle portion of the fare). This proposal is based on space equity principles and would result in motorcycle/driver fares increasing from 11 to 16 percent, depending on the route.

• In-Need Organizations: The proposal suggests that WSF implement a new discount program for in-need organizations that will mitigate the financial impact of the loss of the ability to severe the frequent user books as a result of electronic ticketing. This program would offer a volume-based discount and organizations would qualify for this discount at the recommendation of the appointing bodies of the Ferry Advisory Committee member.

• Commercial Accounts: The proposal recommends the implementation of an upfront, non-refundable maintenance fee of $50 per year, which will help eliminate low volume accounts and help cover the cost of administering the commercial account program.

• Monthly Passes: Limit monthly passes to 31 round trips per month while noting that the passes are non-transferable, non-reproducible and intended for a single user.

• Overheight Surcharge Waiver: Tariff Policy Committee recommended extending the overheight surcharge waiver for vehicles 20-30 feet in length, with wheelchair lifts.

• Delay of tollbooth surcharge: WSF had planned to implement the electronic ticketing system in the Fall. Now that EFS is rolling out in the Winter and Spring, the implementation of the 5% surcharge (up to $2.50) for multi-ride products purchased at the tollbooth will be delayed until the first fare change opportunity no sooner that six months after successful completion of implementation of the electronic ticketing system. Multi-ride products will be available at kiosks at the terminals and on-line over the internet.