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02/29/2008: "WSF Sets New Course With Hammond On Board"

(Official WSDOT photo)
Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond was charged by the Governor to make some waves, if necessary, to wake up the Washington State Ferry (WSF) staff, and get the ferry system on a course that will avoid the current administration and financial course the system has been on.

Hammond felt compelled yesterday to make some obligatory positive statements on the resignation of Sam Kuntz, Ferries Division Director of Finance and Administration, stating “Sam has served the ferries well over the five years he has been with WSDOT and we wish him well;” and then added “He has been focused the last two years exclusively on launching the new electronic fare system and serving on the Smart Card implementation board.”

If WSF would have been better served if Kuntz had broaden his focus a bit, she did not comment on; but did say “We are committed to bringing the Ferries Division more into alignment with WSDOT business practices and that includes an evaluation and reorganization of ferries management and organizational structures.”


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Hammond also had something to say about the current engineering and maintenance programs, and took some action toward changes there as well, by her “commitment to improve the organizational structure and performance of the ferry system,” and then announcing there will be a realignment of the Vessel Engineering and Vessel Maintenance programs.

This is part of what Hammond sees as setting the “stage for Assistant Secretary David Moseley to tailor his workforce to best meet system needs.” The move may be at least partially in response to a finding by the State Auditor’s Office that a need exists to “provide additional oversight of the Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility.”

The reorganization removes four of the existing management positions, and replaces them with two: a Chief Naval Architect and Vessel Engineering Construction Manager.

Governor Chris Gregoire had announced in October that after conducting a national search, Paula Hammond was the final selection to be the new Secretary for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The department includes the 29 boats of the Washington State Ferries, that carry over 27 million passenger - and has been called by the Governor “the state's most popular tourist attraction.” Hammond has served as the Interim Secretary since August.