The San Juan County Council sent the below letter to Governor Jay Inslee on Sept. 30, 2014, in response to proposed cuts to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The recommended ferry service reductions are proposed to save an estimated $3.2 million, offset by associated revenue reductions of $1.1 million, for a net savings of $2.1 million from 2015-17.
For the San Juans, the proposed service reduction includes: extending the winter service from 12 weeks to 20 weeks: no service to Sidney, BC; and reducing service on the San Juans inter-island routes.
WSDOT’s budget request recommends “some ferry service reductions on least profitable runs and WSF will continue to explore other options to free up additional funds to improve the reliability of staff and equipment.”
Other alternatives that were explored included increasing ferry fares significantly or cutting other department activities.
To read the full budget proposal, click here.
Dear Governor Inslee,
On behalf of the elected officials below, representing Clallam, Lincoln, Snohomish and San Juan Counties, and cities therein, the City of Anacortes, Town of Sidney, BC and Town of Friday Harbor, I am writing to express our collective concern with the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) budget submitted to the State Office of Financial Management. Please also find the letters enclosed from Island, Jefferson and Kitsap Counties.
It is our belief that the budget, and the reductions proposed therein, unfairly and disproportionately target the state ferry system and, in turn, ferry dependent communities. All of us are familiar with, and many of us participated directly in, the many conversations regarding the future of the state’s transportation budget last legislative session. We understand the need to make difficult decisions.
However, we believe it is important to, at a minimum, retain current levels of service on all ferry routes – to support the increased traffic that has been reflected.
The future of the ferry system is now. Investments, not reductions, need to be made respecting new boats and upgrades to outdated and undersized terminal facilities. Planning to accommodate increased growth must also continue. We don’t want to backtrack on the progress made over the past several years to improve service.
Ferries transport people (commuters and tourists alike), goods and services every day of the year just like state highways do. They knit together cross-sound communities, provide the pathway to market and are an essential economic catalyst.
The state ferry system is not a transportation curiosity and thus should not be treated in the budget as such. It should instead be treated for what it is – a vital link in the state’s transportation system.
We urge you to revisit and re-evaluate WSDOT’s budget submittal.
Sincerely,
San Juan County Council
Rick Hughes, Chair, Bob Jarman, Vice Chair, Jamie Stephens, Member
