Related pages
WSF press release: Public comment sought for fare increase proposal
LETTERS: Response to proposed tariff changes
Electronic card replaces ticket book fall 2005
SAN JUAN ISLANDER EDITORIAL - Clear communication with WSF essential
LETTERS from Commissioners Rhea Miller and Kevin Ranker in response to SAN JUAN ISLANDER EDITORIAL
Memorial Park to be renovated in Friday Harbor
SAN JUAN ISLANDER EDITORIAL - Historical Preservation is valuable, but so is common sense
(Regarding impact of Memorial Park renovation on ferry service)
Route equity on Washington State Ferries
Customers can comment at the public meetings, via postal mail, email, fax or phone.
Email:tariff
@wsdot.wa.gov
Fax: 206.515.3773
Phone: 888.808.7977
Postal mail: Tariff Proposal
Washington State Ferries
2911 Second Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121-1012
The Transportation Commission can be contacted at www.wsdot.
wa.gov/
commission/
feedback.htm
|
EDITOR's NOTE:The following letters were received from county Commissioners Rhea Miller and Kevin Ranker in response to my
editorial about the need to improve communication between Washington State Ferries and San Juan County residents. San Juan Islander was the first and for several weeks the only news source covering the switch to electronic fares. The first story was posted Dec. 7, 2005. - Sharon Kivisto
Dear Editor,
posted 01/20/05
In stressful times such as these we need to pull together and avoid
the trap of tearing one another apart. Last December I alerted this
very same on-line newspaper to the new automated ferry fare
implications. I initiated a phone call to Bob Distler, the chair of the
Ferry Advisory Committee, and said we have to fight this. He agreed.
The Ferry Advisory Committee and the BOCC have been working on this
issue prior to sanjuanislander or the other newspapers printing
anything, and before the new BOCC had taken office. In times past the
Tariff Commission and the Transportation Commission have carefully
considered our concerns, but this time our pleas seem to be falling on
deaf ears.
Unfortunately, the BOCC is not yet able to be in two places at
once. Ferry service and ferry issues are of utmost importance to the
BOCC, and are the sole focus of Bob Distler. The BOCC has other
pressing matters for citizens in addition to the ferries. The crises
are flying in, from a total collapse of the mental health system putting
the most vulnerable citizens in jail rather than in hospital beds,
litigation that threatens not only our County but the State of
Washington, Public Hearings that are publicized in advance, issues
threatening our local economy, and a BOCC that is getting its feet on
the ground with reduced staff (due to budget cuts) and new Board
members. AND YES, we are going to Olympia to personally address the
ferry issue as well as several other pressing matters, but we could not
go last Tuesday.
This coming Tuesday, January 25, at 2:30 p.m. in the Commissioners'
Hearing Room, the BOCC is meeting directly in person with the Secretary
of Transportation Doug MacDonald and the acting Director of WSF Mike
Anderson. We need you all to come and be present with him as we
confront these very important ferry issues. We welcome your help and
know we are peddling as fast as we can!
Rhea Miller
San Juan County Commissioner, District 3
Dear Editor,
posted 01/20/05
I regret being unable to attend the Transportation Commission hearing in Olympia. I was already committed to publicly advertised hearings and an important executive session here in Friday Harbor. I had planned to go down on Monday, but was unable to match my schedule with those of Sen. Spanel, Rep. Morris and others so I cancelled. Unfortunately, there were many pressing issues this week both in Olympia and here.
This issue is critical to our island communities and I am making it a top priority. The BOCC is meeting with Washington State Transportation Secretary, Doug MacDonald and Washington State Ferries Interim Director, Mike Anderson Tuesday and I will be raising my concerns at that time. I will also be in Olympia in the coming weeks to personally raise this issue again with Rep. Morris, Rep. Quall, Sen. Spanel and Sen. Haugen (chair of the Senate Transportation Committee).
I believe the next step for all of us is to contact our legislators and tell our neighbors about the public meetings that are being scheduled to address this issue on all three main islands on March 2nd. It is critical that we have a very large turnout at these meetings. I will do what I can to make sure we do. My hope is that the Tariff Policy Committee and the Transportation Commission will listen to what we have to say and consider changes before making their final decisions.
I have heard from many of you regarding the idea of a petition to be circulated and presented to the Tariff Policy Committee and the Transportation Commission at the hearing March 2nd. I believe this is an excellent idea. I am working with our Ferry Advisory Committee Chair, Bob Distler and my fellow commissioners on language for a petition that we will begin circulating soon. Gathering signatures now to be presented at the official meetings March 2nd could have a real impact.
We want to make sure however, that people who sign a petition still show up at the meetings... this is critical!
These island meetings will be followed by another meeting of the Tariff Policy Committee and then action by the Transportation Commission in mid-March. I plan to attend both of these meetings.
Kevin Ranker
San Juan County Commissioner, District 1
|
