09/07/2006: "New Winter WSF Parking Rates"

Citing a need "to continue having a presence at the lots" for security, WSF has announce it will institute paid parking through the winter months.

Alex MacLeod, the Chair of the SJC Ferry Advisory Committee, points out that "This marks the first time islanders and others have had to pay for parking from October through April.

● The winter rates will be $5/day, $25/month, $10/day for unoccupied RVs

● $125 for a permit good from the start of charges on Oct. 1 to the resumption of "summer" rates on May 1.

For comparison, the "summer" rates are $10/day, $20/two days, $25/three days, $40/week, $75/month, $20/day for unoccupied RVs; and $300 for season (May 1-Oct. 1).

There will be a chance for the public to share their views with Ferry officials at the Mullis Senior Center in Friday Harbor on Thursday, Sept. 14, at 2:30 p.m., when a public meeting will be held with the county's Ferry Advisory Committee. MacLeod said that "This is a chance for islanders to hear the concerns of their appointed FAC representatives and question and share concerns directly with WSF executives".

The following is a letter sent Friday to Mike Anderson, Executive Director of Washington State Ferries.

Sept. 1, 2006

Dear Mike:

The San Juan County Ferry Advisory Committee, along with our County Council liaison, Alan Lichter, met yesterday to identify our priority issues and concerns for the coming year. The committee asked that I share our thinking with you in advance of the Sept. 14 FAC public meeting in Friday Harbor and present some specific questions we would like you to respond to prior to the meeting.

I'll start with some brief commentary on each of our priority issues:

1. THE LONG-RANGE PLAN. WSF has not responded to the County Council's letter dated June 20 raising concerns with the plan's impacts on this county. Thus it is not at all clear whether WSF intends to make any change in the plan as it affects the San Juan routes. As you know, the plan fails to include provision for capital funds to increase vehicle holding capacity or parking capacity at island terminals or to assist in resolving the Friday Harbor dwell problem. Nor is it clear that WSF intends to scale back the $120 million planned for improvements to the Anacortes terminal, and redirect the balance to island terminal needs that would improve service.

2. WSF'S FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. The lack of adequate and predictable revenues, the unfunded costs for fuel and a very aggressive capital plan combine to raise concerns about tariff increases higher than those provided for in the Long-Range Plan. Tariff issues are primarily a legislative issue and we will focus our energies there. However, when the county's Capron Funds were redirected to WSF's operating budget, ferry users were assured that future increases would not exceed 2.5% annually. We will be looking to WSF to keep faith with this assurance.

3. THE SYDNEY ROUTE. The 2005 traffic data, as well as the data from this spring through July, clearly demonstrates that the vehicle capacity of the Chelan can more than handle the Sydney traffic. Replacing the Elwha with the Chelan has greatly improved service to and from the islands and used existing vessel capacity more effectively. Retaining these improvements in service and efficiency are critical.

4. INTER ISLAND TARIFFS. We question the efficacy of the tariff-route-equity formula as it is being applied to our inter island service. The continued application of the current formula for two more years of tariff increases will have a real impact on the county's economy. We are looking to WSF to support our position.

5. FERRY PARKING. We are concerned about the possibility of parking fees at Anacortes after the summer schedule ends, the high parking fees during the summer which encourage tourists to take their cars rather than park them, and the levying of late fees during the summer when ferries are running behind schedule. We are also concerned about the lack of adequate ferry park-and-ride parking, particularly at Lopez and Orcas. We believe WSF should be an active partner in solving these needs.

6. THE ELECTRONIC FARE SYSTEM. We appreciate WSF delaying implementation until it is certain the system works. We intend to partner actively with WSF to insure a smooth implementation, whenever that occurs.

7. SCHEDULES AND ALLOCATIONS. We have made significant progress by adding eastbound loading data to the westbound traffic statistics to help WSF come up with schedules and allocations that are equitable and that work. We need to reexamine the routes' "stakes in the ground" to see if they still are valid, and study possible changes if not. Our relationship with WSF staff on scheduling and routes is very positive and we will work to keep it so.

Here are the questions the committee would like answered, preferably in writing in advance of the Sept. 14 meeting. We've done our best to keep the list short. (The Anacortes parking questions went to Susan Harris-Heuther Aug. 25).

1. LONG-RANGE PLAN
What is WSF's point-by-point response to the concerns raised by the County Council about the long-range plan?
What changes to the plan will WSF make in response to the Council's concerns?

2. INTERNATIONAL ROUTE VESSEL ASSIGNMENT
Is WSF committed to keeping the Chelan on the international route until such time that traffic volumes justify consideration of a larger vessel?

3. TERMINALS
How much does WSF expect to spend to replace the Anacortes terminal building?
Has WSF modified its plans for the Anacortes terminal project based on San Juan County's position that it is a low priority for county ferry users?
When will the third tie-up slip be completed?
How much has WSF budgeted to implement the Friday Harbor Intermodal Transportation Study? What is WSF's commitment to provide funds to this project?

4. ANACORTES PARKING
Why does WSF charge for parking when all other park-and-ride lots are free?

Does WSF have any plan to institute year-round pay parking at the Anacortes terminal? If so, when and at what rates? How does WSF determine the point at which parking rates encourage drivers to park their vehicles rather than take them on the ferry?

What percentage of parking fees goes to WSF? How many dollars?

What is WSF's agreement with Diamond regarding imposition of late fees? What percentage of late fees goes to WSF? How many dollars?

We are also looking forward to informational updates at the meeting on EFS, the Origin & Destination Survey, traffic/ridership data 2002-2006 for all island routes, and the status of relocating customs to Sydney from Anacortes and the Friday Harbor terminal. In addition, Bob Distler has agreed to give an update on the Legislative committee study of ferry-system financing.

Thank you for your attention to the FAC's questions. We look forward to hosting you in Friday Harbor for the public FAC meeting Sept. 14.

With warm regards,

Alex MacLeod Chair
San Juan County Ferry Advisory Committee