What is the Future of Ferries on the Sound?
Vashon Island could soon be more cut off from the rest of the world; two of the island’s three ferry routes are being considered for elimination, including our Point Defiance-Tahlequah run, and the Vashon-Southworth run. As budgets at the state level are being re-examined, the state ferry system is one of many parts of the government considering a future of reduced funding.
Washington’s ferry system has been less than profitable for some time now, particularly since losing its funding from the motor vehicle excise tax in 2000. Funding has been patched together over the last decade, but even that is running dry, and costs are going up, as the fleet ages and newer boats are needed. The system, which has lost more than $1.2 billion since the repeal of the MVET, faces a potential $900 million shortfall in the next decade. Governor Gregoire’s 2012 State of the State address included an outline of the plight of the state’s transportation system, including the ferry system. WSDOT Ferries Division Assistant Secretary David Moseley summed up the meaning for ferries in a recent weekly report.
The fact is that there is no maintenance and preservation funding for vessels and terminals beyond June 2013. Without preserving our vessels and terminals, at a minimum, we cannot continue to operate this great system. We’ve known this crisis was coming and now it’s here.
Unless a new source of funding can be found, the ferry system will have to cut five ferries and reduce service to two others; the two Vashon routes are on the list of potential cuts. If the cuts do come, priority would be given to runs that see the most traffic, and to not cutting off islands entirely, although the loss of the Vashon ferries could make life considerably more complicated for many Vashon residents and businesses.
These cuts aren’t set in stone yet; for now it’s an example of the kinds of cuts we might if new revenue sources aren’t found. Governor Gregoire’s proposed transportation package would allow for current services to continue. In order to keep up with vessel replacements and other investments in the system going forward, however, Moseley makes clear that more funding will be needed.
We absolutely refuse to use the phrase “keep the ferries afloat” (way, way too obvious). That said, the question remains: what are our ferries worth? Are we willing to pay to save the ferries? If not, do we take the hit to the transportation system, and let communities like Vashon figure it out on their own? Are there more creative solutions? How about reviving the mosquito fleet?
Read more from the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber.
13 comments
R RR Anderson January 26, 2012
Thanks Tim Eyman!
J Jesse January 26, 2012
^^^ What RR said ^^^
T talus January 26, 2012
I love this Vashon islander’s quote from article:
“It would be absolutely horrible. It would seriously mean moving to Tacoma probably,” he said.
A fate worse than death!
But I agree with the guy — the state should save the ferry, even it it means reducing subsidies and charging more per trip.
J jessica January 26, 2012
Talus,
You sound a little oversensitive—I think he’s saying the commute would be horrible, not living in Tacoma.
Is a private ferry/taxi a viable option?
R RR Anderson January 26, 2012
all the richy riches on vashon should pool money to SAVE THE KALAKALA!
T tacoma1 January 26, 2012
I wonder how Vashon County voted on I-695. I tried to look up the results but couldn’t find them broken down by county back then.
T talus January 26, 2012
Jessica, I just thought it would be funny to quote it out of context. If anything, I’m overly numb.
Tacoma1, I would think Vashon would be way too liberal (even back then) to support anti-tax initiatives like 695.
Finally, I have no idea why there’s a hyperlink to spam on one of my words in that previous post. Odd.
T tacoma1 January 26, 2012
I agree about Vashon County in theory. I do remember specifically that Island County voted for I 695. For that, I say Island County residents should get to participate in less ferry service.
J Jesse January 26, 2012
No ferries to Vashon equals mass people leaving Vashon equals lower property values equals less property tax revenue equals the state saves nothing by eliminating the ferry. The end.
G geargirl January 27, 2012
A tale of deceit:
1. Eyman introduces ridiculous intiatives for his own benefit. What does he get? Money and lots of it. Attention, which he craves.
2. The public falls for his rhetoric about how the evil gov’t is fleecing us (all the while he’s the one doing the fleecing) by supporting public projects like, well gosh, our statewide transportation system. How dare the gov’t take money from us to keep our highways and roads, buses and trains and, yes, ferries, safe and maintained and serving our state’s citizens and businesses and overall economy? Gosh, good thing Eyman opened our eyes to all this gov’t spending! And to think it was going on virtually BEHIND OUR BACKS!! For shame, all you…you… governments trying to…er…govern!
3. Said public, with seemingly no long-term memory, votes to support his initiatives, so we can put our collective foot down and stop all this unprecedented gov’t spending!
4. Initiatives pass. Eyeman slinks away, his pockets lined with money, ready to write the next initiative THAT WILL MAKE HIM MORE MONEY and gain him more time in the limelight.
5. Fast-forward a year later: our cities and state are running out of money, potholes are growing larger by the day, massive bus routes have to be eliminated, and what?? We can’t even pay for our ferries?? What just happened? How COULD this happen??
Lesson learned?
Those who voted in Eyman’s terribly damaging tax cuts need to do us all a favor and hold the attention-craving, money-hungry Eyman accountable and try to connect your righteous vote of a decade ago with the ugly consequences of believing Eyman.
One should NEVER believe Eyman.
Oh, and please remove the wool over your eyes before Eyman robs us all again.
R radar January 27, 2012
A little geography lesson is in order here. There is no “Vashon County.” Vashon is in King County. Island County includes Whidbey and Camano Islands, both of which are connected to the mainland by bridges. (Of course, Whidbey does get ferry service.)
S Stu January 27, 2012
Bring back the mosquito fleet.
T tacoma1 January 27, 2012
I meant San Juan County, not Island County. And also meant the Vashon legislative district, not Vashon County. I know Vashon is in King County Sloppy posting on my part. My bad.