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FERRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE |
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Do the MathDear Editor, posted 06/07/05
Stated another way, in 1997, a total of 148,183 riders used Washington State Ferries to travel between Anacortes and Sidney BC in either direction. So the numbers in that same study mean that, on average, each rider (not each vehicle, but each person) contributed $135 to the Anacortes economy. Does anyone really believe that? I supported the change to RV fares to and from Sidney BC, reducing them by 50% by eliminating the overheight charge, because existing state ferries tariffs had priced that segment of the market almost totally off our international route in favor of BCFerries service out of Tsawassen. The intention of the Tariff Policy Committee, as endorsed by the Transportation Commission, is to bring RV's back to State Ferries' Sidney route and thus to increase total revenues accruing to the system. Overstating the impact the Sidney route has on the local Anacortes economy adds little to efforts aimed at strengthening ferry service in this area. Bob Distler Previous lettersLetter from Bob Distler to Rep. Jeff Morris re ferry serviceThis note was sent to Representative Morris, with copies to Senator Haugen, Representative Quall and Senator Mary-Margaret Haugen. Dear Jeff, In our earlier exchange of e-mails on this subject, you indicated that you have "always advocated for growing the pie instead of consistently charging more for less service which has almost become status quo." Having reviewed your press release dated 14 March, however, I find nothing in the plan outlined that supports needed domestic service to, from or within the San Juan Islands. In fact, the package as described may well negatively impact intrastate ferry service, and therefore cannot be justified based on its commitment of resources benefiting the international route. . One of the plan's stated highlights is "maintaining all existing auto-ferry routes, including the Anacortes-Sidney run year-round." . In order to accomplish that goal, during the period each winter that the SOLAS-equipped Super Class ferry Elwha is removed from service for annual maintenance and inspection, another similarly equipped vessel will have to assume the service to Sidney. As you know, at present the only other boat owned by WSF that is certified to provide international service is the Evergreen State. That ferry carries 64 fewer cars and travels at a significantly slower speed than does the Elwha. . Because the Sidney boat also provides important domestic service during much of the year, the loss of those 64 car spaces would mean that the San Juans' morning capacity to the mainland, our late afternoon/early evening capacity returning home and the total space available to all islands on the 8:25 p.m. sailing back from Anacortes each night (the last sailing on four nights each week) would be reduced by that amount, solely to accommodate some two dozen vehicles per day that use WSF service to and from Sidney during the deep winter months. . It is my understanding that further significant capital improvements will be required in order to keep the Evergreen State in service. That vessel is simply too small and too slow to be useful for mainline service connecting Anacortes with the San Juans, and spending more money to keep it afloat seems to run counter to Mike Thorne's plan to focus future capital spending on improving fleet commonality using boats with enhanced utility throughout the network. . An alternative to doing more work on the Evergreen State would be to SOLAS equip the 130-car Chelan., a project which I understand would cost over $10 million. While that boat would satisfy our intrastate service requirements during the winter, such an expenditure to provide in net the least utilized few weeks of service each year to Sidney would entail a significant capital expenditure serving very few ferry users. There is yet another reason why "maintaining . . . the Anacortes-Sidney run year-round" is an unwise objective. . By the year 2008, WSF has stated that the Elwha will have to be removed from service for a period in excess of one year for a major re-engining project. Shortly thereafter, the Super Class ferry Hyak, which has not gone through a preservation cycle, will be at the end of its serviceable life, and the plan deploys the Elwha to assume the Hyak's domestic role. . Therefore, in order to maintain the international route as we near the end of this decade, either the Hyak would have to go through a full preservation cycle at a cost in excess of $40 million, or WSF would need to acquire one incremental vessel in excess of those otherwise needed to maintain any given level of intrastate service. Because the Elwha will be out of service during at least one summer season, I presume the work on the Hyak would also include a SOLAS package, which could further increase the price tag. You know that I have questioned the long-term viability of the Sidney route, particularly during these times of state fiscal pressures that continue to unreasonably impact ferry service. If traffic growth here in the San Juans continues, we will be in need of vessel and terminal resources in excess of those provided for by the long-range capital plan presented by Mr. Thorne last December. Despite its mildly negative impacts on the islands during the winter months, I remain continued to supporting the framework and the details of that plan because it addresses system requirements in a realistic and comprehensive way. If revenues do indeed exceed forecasted levels, there will be justification--and, in my view, sufficient time--to acquire more than the two new boats proposed; under any conceivable scenario, however, I question whether it makes sense to commit to the Sidney service as outlined in your proposal. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you in greater detail. Thank you for considering my remarks. Bob Distler |
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