Public comment sought for fare increase proposal
posted 01/23/05
WSF PRESS RELEASE: Washington State Transportation Commission met this week and gave approval for Washington State Ferries staff and members of the Tariff Policy Committee to begin collecting public comment on the 2005-2007 Tariff proposal, developed by the Policy Committee. The Committee, which is appointed by the Commission and consists of ferry riders, legislators and transit operators, presented their proposals to the Commission on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at the Commissions monthly meeting.
Thirteen open houses are planned from February 8 through March 2 to facilitate gathering public comment on the proposal. In mid-March, the Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing in Seattle to take formal testimony concerning the proposal, review customer comments that have been gathered throughout the process and make decisions based on the Tariff Policy Committee's potentially amended recommendations.
"The gathering of public opinion on the proposal is very important to the overall tariff process," says Traci Brewer-Rogstad, Assistant Director of Operations at Washington State Ferries. "The Tariff Policy Committee worked long hours to develop this proposal. After we gather public comment, at the meetings, via email or the other ways we have to communicate, they will meet again and review their proposal based on the comments. Public involvement in this process works, people do listen and changes have been made to past proposals based on comments. Customers should be comfortable that their opinions will be heard."
Elements of the proposal would go into effect on May 1, 2005. These would include:
- General Fare Increase-A one-year general fare increase of 5 percent plus rounding, effective May 1, is suggested, consistent with the ferries strategic financial plan developed and approved by the Transportation Commission in 2002. As an example, the Cross Sound Passenger Fare goes from $5.70 to $6. The car and driver fare goes from $10 to $10.50.
- The proposal also continues the phase-in of Tariff Route Equity for the Anacortes to San Juan Island routes, capped at no greater than 5 percent above the system-wide fare increases. (Editor's note: the San Juan Island fare would increase 10 percent - 5 percent overall plus 5 percent route equity.)
- Anacortes-Sidney: A new promotional fare for recreational vehicles and buses 20 feet in length and over will be applied to the International sailing, cutting the fare in half and making the route more competitive for recreational and bus traffic in comparison with competing services traveling to Vancouver Island.
- Youth Fares: Raise youth fare from 5 through 18 to 6 through 18 to align WSF with other regional transit systems.
- Implementation date change: Fare increases will take place on May 1 instead of the first Sunday in May in accordance with other transit system changes.
Other changes that are dependent on the implementation of Washington State Ferries' planned Electronic Fare Collection system would not be implemented until the Fall of 2005 when the new electronic fare system will go on line.
Washington State Ferries is implementing this new system, in part to increase efficiency and accountability. The system has been in development for the past year and will replace the existing frequent user coupon books with a multi-ride card. The Tariff Policy Committee proposes two cards, one for commuters and a convenience product for less frequent users.
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Multi-Ride Cards: The proposal for all routes but the San Juan Islands includes a commuter multi-ride card with 10 round trips at a 20 percent discount but would lower the expiration date from 90 days to 30 days and a convenience card with five round trips in 60 days with a 15 percent discount, to be lowered to 10 percent in 2006. Currently, most routes offer a coupon book of ten round trips in 90 days at a 20 percent discount.
The proposal for the San Juan Islands suggests a commuter multi-ride car and driver card of five rides in 30 days at 25 percent discount and a convenience multi-ride car and driver card of five round trips in 90 days at a 15 percent discount. The proposal for passenger fares is a commuter card of five round trips in 30 days at 35 percent discount and a convenience card of five round trips in 60 days at a 25 percent discount.
- Commercial Accounts: The proposal suggests that WSF continue the 10 percent discount on commercial accounts that use the system for 12 or more one way trips per week until the implementation of the new electronic system in the fall of 2005. At that time, WSF will switch to a more flexible commercial account program that would be available for local businesses, non-profits and agencies.
- The new system will allow pre-purchase of single fare tickets. It is proposed that all pre-purchased single fare media be valid for a period of seven days, and will be accepted as partial payment for travel on a more expensive route with the fare category for which it is purchased.
- Based on the guidance of the legislative members of the Tariff Policy Committee, a 10 percent surcharge for fuel was not recommended at this time nor was a 2006 general fare increase. Based on Legislative action, both items may be reassessed at a later date. The Tariff Policy Committee did recommend, to go into effect on May 1, 2006, that all multi-ride products that are available at the kiosks at the terminal or online would be priced 5 percent higher if purchased at tollbooth.
The Public Meetings are scheduled as follows:
- Tuesday, February 8 at McMurray Middle School on Vashon Island, 7-9 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 9 at John Sedgwick Jr. High at Port Orchard, 7-9 p.m.
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Tuesday, February 15 at the Kitsap Conference Center in Bremerton 7-9 p.m.
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Wednesday, February 16 at the Seattle Federal Building from 12-1 p.m.
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Wednesday, February 16 at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club from 7-9 p.m.
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Thursday, February 17 at the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal, 4-7 p.m.
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Tuesday, February 22 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland, 7-9 p.m.
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Wednesday, February 23 at the Blue Heron Middle School in Port Townsend, 7-9 p.m.
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Tuesday, March 1, at the Shaw Community Center, 10:45 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
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Tuesday, March 1 at the Flounder Bay Cafe in Anacortes, 5-7 p.m.
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Wednesday, March 2 on Lopez Island at the Lopez Center, 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, March 2 at Friday Harbor at the Mullis Community Senior Center, 3:15-5 p.m.
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Wednesday, March 2 at the Orcas Center on Orcas Island, 6:30-8:10 p.m.
Customers can comment at the public meetings, via postal mail, email, fax or phone.
- Email:tariff@wsdot.wa.gov
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Fax: 206.515.3773
- Phone: 888.808.7977
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Postal mail: Tariff Proposal
Washington State Ferries
2911 Second Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121-1012
Information about the proposal will be available at the terminals and on the ferries by Tuesday, February 1, 2005.
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