02/19/2007: "Action Needed On Ferry Fares"

By Lee Sturdivant

For those who couldn't attend the recent ferry fare hearings at the Mullis Center, I'd like to share a couple of points that seem important on this issue.

First of all, we should all be grateful for our Ferry Advisory Committee led by Alex MacLeod of Shaw Island, and for their energetic defense of Islanders confronted with ever increasing fares and deteriorating service.

What also became apparent is that these issues must be solved by our state legislators. Years ago, when the values-based auto excise tax went away with Tim Eyman's initiative, our ferry service began to sink. The courts later ruled the initiative unconstitutional, but the legislature has not been willing to revisit that funding source. Our fares have more than doubled since then, our service is under constant strain.

That means we all need to contact Reps. Jeff Morris (morris_je@leg.wa.gov), Dave Quall (quall_da@leg.wa.gov) and Sen. Harriet Spanel, (spanel_ha@leg.wa.gov) and ask them to step up to the plate with stable long term ferry funding

Also, Anne Sheridan will be leading a delegation to Olympia in March to present all the petitions signed on the islands (over 2000 names collected in the first week) and you may want to consider joining her in that effort. It's time to Save Our Ships
Additionally, it was obvious to anyone watching these hearings that there is a major disconnect between the people setting policies regarding the ferries and the riders here on the islands. The WSF people were eager to share their accomplishments in programs like:
"Smart Cards", "EFS", "In Need Organizations," and other mysterious programs that had everyone in the audience simply staring at each other. What on earth are they talking about?

What they are talking about and what is driving all these changes is a coming region-wide integrated transportation system that will probably work quite well in the I-5 corridor where most ferry riders live. San Juan Islander riders cannot be involved as participants (we are not commuters, not frequent users, not easily connected to buses, trains, etc.) yet we are being forced to squeeze into this new "more efficient system." After all, to leave us out would cause "inefficiencies." The whole ticketing system must become more "up-to-date. More 21st century." YIKES!

It is hard to try and carve out a 'special consideration' for islanders in such a large system change, especially when we are so often portrayed as all wealthy and not needing anything but higher rates. But if we don't try and make our voices heard, we can see the pattern that will leave our community with real loses. Sign the petitions. Email or call your Legislators. Go to Olympia.

(Lee Sturdivant is involved in the petition drive to "roll-back of the proposed ferry fare increases" that is currently underway in San Juan County)