Ferry riders rally to protect future service
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Many state ferry riders say they're afraid they're going to be up a creek without a paddle. They rallied on the steps of the state capitol Wednesday, fighting proposals to fund ferries in the coming years.
The ferry riders carried signs signaling they're sinking and in need of help in order to avoid getting stranded.
"People in this building behind me have seemed to have forgotten that this is our highway system," said Very Rev. Abbott Tryphon.
Tryphon said drivers are not told to repair potholes on their own; the state does. Likewise, he said the state needs to properly maintain its marine highway.
The state ferry system came up with two plans for lawmakers: maintain service and get an extra $3 billion for 11 new boats, and buy just five boats at an extra $1 billion but reduce service.
"They don't manage it effectively," said Ron Mitchell. "That's a personal opinion, but bottom line: we need to maintain the existing services that are there."
Several in the crowd said they're not merely rejecting plans without offering up solutions. For instance, instead of building two new vessels, there's a suggestion to improve the ruddering systems on two existing vessels to be used more efficiently.
"That may save over $50 million, so we're excited about that if it works," said Bremerton City Council member Adam Brockus.
And that's part of what they're asking. They don't want to pull money from other highway projects around the state; they just want equitable funding and are willing to brainstorm to come up with ways to do it.
Some ferry runs are more profitable than others, but on average passenger fares cover about 70 percent of operating costs, a state ferry system spokeswoman said. In other words, the state subsidizes an average of $3.50 per fare.
The ferry riders carried signs signaling they're sinking and in need of help in order to avoid getting stranded.
"People in this building behind me have seemed to have forgotten that this is our highway system," said Very Rev. Abbott Tryphon.
Tryphon said drivers are not told to repair potholes on their own; the state does. Likewise, he said the state needs to properly maintain its marine highway.
The state ferry system came up with two plans for lawmakers: maintain service and get an extra $3 billion for 11 new boats, and buy just five boats at an extra $1 billion but reduce service.
"They don't manage it effectively," said Ron Mitchell. "That's a personal opinion, but bottom line: we need to maintain the existing services that are there."
Several in the crowd said they're not merely rejecting plans without offering up solutions. For instance, instead of building two new vessels, there's a suggestion to improve the ruddering systems on two existing vessels to be used more efficiently.
"That may save over $50 million, so we're excited about that if it works," said Bremerton City Council member Adam Brockus.
And that's part of what they're asking. They don't want to pull money from other highway projects around the state; they just want equitable funding and are willing to brainstorm to come up with ways to do it.
Some ferry runs are more profitable than others, but on average passenger fares cover about 70 percent of operating costs, a state ferry system spokeswoman said. In other words, the state subsidizes an average of $3.50 per fare.