3-6-2001
Woods says she can’t support ferry
task force findings

At the final meeting of the Joint Task Force on Ferries, Rep. Beverly Woods, R-Poulsbo, introduced a minority opinion saying she would like to see more detail of the ferry system’s operational costs before asking riders to pay more at the fare box.

The task force approved a majority opinion, setting a six-year schedule of fare increases with the goal of an 80 percent fare-box recovery of operational costs.

“What are operational costs?” Woods asked. “I don’t think that ferry commuters should pay 80 percent of an escalating expense, attributable directly to the failure to implement all necessary cost efficiencies and savings.

“This is like writing a blank check and not knowing what you are getting in return,” Woods said. “All ferry riders deserve to know what they are paying for.”

Woods said she would especially like to see a breakdown of maintenance costs included in the operations budget.

“In the state highway system, maintenance costs are included in the capital budget, and not classified as operational costs,” Woods said. “If ferry riders are paying more in operational costs because of aging equipment and its higher maintenance costs, there’s no equity. Those costs should be included in the capital budget.”

“This isn’t by any means a done deal,” Woods said. “Neither the task force nor the Legislature set ferry fares. We only make recommendations. The Washington State Transportation Commission has fare-setting authority.”

Representatives from the Tariff Review Board, an advisory panel formed by the transportation commission, indicated they will accept the task force recommendation, with a plan to hold a series of public hearings this month, including ones for Bremerton, Bainbridge, Kingston and Southworth, before issuing a final decision. If they adopt the 80 percent fare-box recovery scheme, the Seattle to Bremerton passenger–only ferry fares would increase 143 percent in May, from $3.70 to $9, while auto/passenger fares would increase 22 percent. Fares for both would then increase close to 22 percent each year thereafter through 2007.