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03/17/2008: "“Normal” Service Will Resume -WSD Director Moseley"

(David Moseley and Jayne Davis of WSF answer questions from the public)

David Moseley has been the Washington State Ferries Director for only eight days, but he made time on Wednesday (3-12-08) to come to San Juan County to answer questions from the County Council, invited members of the Friday Harbor Town Council, and members of the SJC Ferry Advisory Committee.

Moseley made note In his introductory remarks that while he comes to the job with over thirty years of public administration and management experience, he is without any prior maritime experience, but indicated he was selected for the position based on Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond’s goal of bringing leadership and management abilities “to move the ferry system forward and restore the public trust and confidence in the ferry system.”

Like all good managers, Moseley had already drawn up a list of priorities, which he shared with the assembly. The first was to build new boats; a process that is already underway; but under some direct questioning, Moseley said the first boat new boat that will be ready for service in San Juan County is now only in the design stage, and will not sail for at least two, or three, years.

His second priority is the maintenance of the existing boats, with a goal of resuming normal service by early fall of this year. The Council did not ask for a definition of “normal”, so it was not clear if the fall will bring steady and consistent service, or only that there will be the normal number of boats with the normal amount of capacity assigned to the SJC runs.

The third goal is to continue to work with the various state committees and commissions to meet the goals set out in the passage of the so-called “ferry Bill” by the state legislature; goals that are to be met by 2009. Related to this is his forth goal of meeting and working with local communities and groups; a process he said that his type of management style.

The Council had prepared two “action needed” requests, the first was to “fund an independent economic analysis of the relationship and impact of ferry fares…and allow no increases until the analysis is completed.” The second was to have more of a say in how WSF actions affect SJC.

Councilman Alan Lichter express concern that too often decisions have been made that affect the community without consulting with the community. Moseley said he would “love to hear how we can do better. That is exactly what we want to do.”

Moseley promised to consider ways to involve the County planning and policy discussions. He also promised to be a frequent visitor to the County, with his first return visit in just three weeks when he attends the April 2nd meeting of the San Juan Ferry Advisory Committee.

A question was about the future of passenger only ferries, and Moseley said WSF will no longer be involved, that “will reside in county government”. He said it will be up the counties to create and fund such programs

The Council asked if there was a contingency plan for SJC if ferries broke down. Moseley said up “until Fall, we will have no vessels in reserve so we have very little flexibility,” he said. If any other boats have to be taken out of service, the problems will “ripple throughout the system.” The system has had a succession of service and maintenance problems since the four 1927 vintage steel electric ferries were permanently taken out of service last November because of safety concerns.

Councilman Howard Rosenfeld brought up the subject of the spot checks by the Border Patrol in Anacortes. Moseley said they too were concerned, but there was nothing they could do.