Ferries chief promises no reservations at Clinton - The Whidbey Examiner

Ferries chief promises no reservations at Clinton

By Justin Burnett


At a community meeting in Clinton last week, South and Central Whidbey residents lambasted Washington State Ferries officials for the second time this year over the agency's long-range plans, particularly the idea of instituting a reservation system on some ferry routes.

As at a similar meeting in Langley in February, local residents made it crystal clear they are against a reservation system of any kind on the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry route.

"With all due respect, I don't think you understand the changes that are taking place on this island when it come to transportation," Greenbank resident Charlona Sawyer said after listening to Washington State Ferries Assistant Secretary David Mosley speak.

"The reservation system, to me, is a total waste of taxpayer dollars," Freeland resident Mike Taft said.

The meeting was one of a series of public meetings organized by Washington State Ferries this month to provide a legislative update and present information about ferry construction plans, a proposed reservations system and future fare increases.

Concerning a reservations system, Moseley told the audience of about 25 local residents that Whidbey Island residents need not be concerned about a system being imposed on the Clinton-Mukilteo run. The message delivered in February was heard loud and clear, he said.

"I heard you in the Langley meeting," Moseley said. "And the Legislature heard you at the Langley meeting. And that's why we're not implementing the reservation system next year."

According to Moseley, the public comment received in February spurred the state Legislature to reject the idea of starting a reservation system on the route. Instead, lawmakers directed the transportation agency to conduct a study on how a reservation system might work on the Edmonds-Kingston route, one of the busiest in the state ferry system. Both communities directly affected by that route have lobbied for a reservation system to ease traffic backups that block access to businesses and homes.

A reservation system would only be implemented on those ferry routes where its effectiveness can be clearly demonstrated, Moseley said. All routes are recognized as having unique needs, he said.

But many local residents at the meeting remained unconvinced. Sheila Fleming, a Freeland resident, asked who would evaluate whether a reservation system is appropriate for a specific route. She said it doesn't make sense to invest in a reservation system that nobody really wants.

"After all the outcry you heard, why do you think it's even worth spending money to investigate this," Fleming said.

Moseley said it all comes down to capacity problems. Managing system use more efficiently saves Washington State Ferries from having to spend money on bigger vessels, larger terminals and expansion of parking lots and holding areas. Under current patterns of use, expanding holding areas to meet demand would cost an estimated $280 million. He also said that while a reservation system may be unpopular idea in South Whidbey, that is not the case with many other ferry communities.

"We're not interested in doing this to make peoples' lives miserable," Moseley said. "We're interested in doing this to make the system work better and to make people's lives better."

Moseley also gave a report on Washington State Ferries' long-range plan. Once completed - the final draft is expected to be released in July - the document will point the direction the agency will take over the next 22 years.

According to Moseley, the Legislature laid out several clear policy directives for the plan. Not only will existing service levels be maintained, but only spending for essential projects - such as vessel and terminal preservation - are to be allowed.

The Legislature also agreed to build five new ferries over the next 16 years. The first three will be 64-car ferries, while the final two may be 144-car ferries, depending on the availability of funding. If lawmakers can't muster enough cash to build the bigger vessels, the fourth ferry would be another 64-car ferry of the Island Home design. Five more boats will also need to be replaced in the final six years of the plan.

Moseley warned that the Legislature was unsuccessful in identifying a long-term funding solution for Washington State Ferries. Under the current funding system, there's a $3 billion shortfall for implementing the long-range plan.

Several people in the audience wondered whether Washington State Ferries would deliver on the promise. The agency has been promising new ferries for years, but somehow ferry construction is always delayed.

"It seems to me like we're doing a déjà vu here of what we've already done in the past that went nowhere," Sawyer said.

Moseley acknowledged that the ferry system is still facing many challenges, but said some big steps were taken during the 2009 legislative session, and he believes the agency finally is headed in the right direction.

"Heaven knows we have a lot of progress we still need to make, but I think we've made progress," he said.

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