Union meeting

The out port MM&P Union meeting will be held in Poulsbo, WA at the Son's of Norway in the Norske meeting room. We will have 2 meetings, one at 1000-1200 and the 2nd meeting at 1300-1500. Please try to attend this meeting as this will be our last meeting until September. We will be discussing many issues concerning Crowley, Dunlap and WSF and will have information about the upcoming dues increase vote.

Mike and I hope that a large number of members will attend.

Capt. Tim Saffle, Branch Agent - Edmonds - MM&P-UIG

New Golden Gate ferry renamed as M.V. Napa - Contra Costa Times

Staff Report
Posted: 06/11/2009 11:08:25 PM PDT
Updated: 06/11/2009 11:08:26 PM PDT

The Golden Gate Bridge District has a new ferry - sort of.
In January, two high-speed catamarans were purchased by Golden Gate Ferry from Washington State Ferries for $2 million each, the M.V. Snohomish and the M.V. Chinook. The ferries will be fully refurbished and placed into service in later this year and next.
Earlier this week the M.V. Snohomish was renamed as the M.V. Napa at a ceremony in Napa. The M.V. Napa will provide service from Larkspur, beginning this summer. It will undergo a complete refurbishment in 2010.

Powered by Qumana

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.

Powered by Qumana

WSDOT Newsletter - The Snohomish Times

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced this week the launch of a newsletter designed to increase accountability and reporting on the delivery of projects funded by the federal ARRA.
The weekly online newsletter, Stimulus News You Can Use, features information on highway project delivery, along with updates on grant applications for high-speed passenger rail and transit projects, as well as updates on the national context of Recovery Act (ARRA) accountability reporting. Visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/funding/stimulus/newsletter.htm to sign up to receive the newsletter in your e-mail. The newsletter is one way WSDOT is working to keep transportation stakeholders updated on the fast-moving effort to put people to work and improve the states infrastructure.

WSDOT has developed an extensive ARRA web site that includes project lists, project pages and program delivery information at www.wsdot.wa.gov/funding/stimulus.

The Federal Highway Administration has provided $492 million for state and local highway projects. Additional FHWA funding could be available:

$50 million in National Ferry Transportation System Grants
$1.5 billion in Supplemental Discretionary Grants for highway mega projects
The Federal Transit Administration has provided $179 million in formula funding to Washington for transit system capital projects. The Federal Rail Administration will allocate $8 billion in funding later this year. The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded more than $44 million to six local airports.

Washington state is administering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a Web site, http://www.recovery.wa.gov/, so every Washingtonian can see where tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Obama has appointed Vice President Biden to oversee all states recovery efforts and to root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars are put to good use and recharge the economy.

Powered by Qumana

More Ferry Meetings on Tap This Week - The Kitsap Sun

Monday, June 8, 2009


Washington State Ferries will hold public meetings Tuesday and Wednesday in Kitsap County.

WSF officials will recap the legislative session and discuss their long-range plan, including the building of new boats. They'll talk about a reservations study and clarify the tariff process. There will also be opportunities for the public to ask questions and make comments.

The meetings follow previous ones held in Bremerton and at Southworth.

The meeting schedule:

Tuesday: Bainbridge Island, Commons, 402 Brien Drive, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Kingston, Community Center, 11212 Highway 104, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Powered by Qumana

Ferries Haven't Been Given the Go-Ahead on Reservations - Kitsap Sun

BREMERTON — Washington State Ferries won't require riders to make vehicle reservations anytime soon.

Director David Moseley, acknowledging concerns that customers have voiced about having to call ahead, said Monday night during a meeting in Bremerton that the 2009 Legislature did not provide the money or authority to set up a reservation system. Lawmakers, however, did ask the ferry system to complete a pre-design report by Nov. 1 on what such a system would entail and to start a pilot program on one route by 2011.

That route will be Edmonds-Kingston because it presents several characteristics that need to be addressed. It carries more cars than any other route, moves a large number of commercial vehicles and includes a growing number of commuters.

Operations manager Doug Schlief, who commutes from Port Orchard, is leading the project team. One of his tasks will be to set up a community partnership with Edmonds and Kingston to work through how the system will work.

A reservation system appeals to the ferry system and the Legislature because it would allow them to make the best use of existing facilities. Sometimes cars stack up along the highway for hours waiting to get on a boat. To expand holding areas for them would cost $280 million, Moseley said. If drivers had a space guaranteed for a certain sailing, they wouldn't need to show up early and wait in line. Moseley said he doesn't anticipate charging a fee to make a reservation, but a deposit would be required that would be part of the ticket price.

Moseley said he has contacted about a dozen ferry systems throughout the world about their reservations issues and was told the main reason they require them is for customer convenience. They provide certainty for travelers.

Ferry officials also spoke Monday about the direction given them by the 2009 Legislature, the fare-setting process and their long-range plan.

Fares will go up for the first time since May 2007 on Oct. 11. WSF's only role now is to make a proposal to the state Transportation Commission in mid-July. Following direction from the governor and Legislature, it will recommend a 2.5 percent across-the-board increase. The Transportation Commission can accept or change the proposal, and it has assumed the responsibility from WSF to conduct public hearings in August.

The Legislature in April provided funding to maintain the existing level of service for all routes and to build two new 64-car ferries besides the one that's already in the pipeline. Its budget plan also would pay for two 144-car ferries, but the money hasn't been appropriated. The first 144-car ferry would go to the Mukilteo-Clinton route, in 2013, the second to Bremerton, replacing the 124-car Kitsap. If there's not enough money to build a second 144-car ferry, a fourth 64-car boat would be constructed.

Five new ferries would allow the 87-car Evergreen State, the 60-car Rhododendron and 34-car Hiyu to be retired. An 87-car ferry would replace the Hiyu as the backup boat.

"We will not have reliable service until we build all five of the boats," Moseley said.

WSF's long-range plan calls for five more new boats from 2025 to 2030 to replace the 87-car Tillikum and Klahowya and the 144-car Elwha, Kaleetan and Yakima. The 144-car Hyak will be renovated in 2011.

The Legislature also directed the ferry system to explore opportunities to improve service at Bremerton and report its findings, and the cost, at the 2010 session.

The Legislature's 16-year financial plan comes up $127 million short of covering ferry operations, and there's a $936 million gap in capital spending. WSF's long-range plan extends 22 years, to 2030, and includes five new ferries that aren't in the Legislature's plan, pushing the funding gap to about $3 billion.

The final long-range plan will be available on June 30.

The goal before the next budget comes out for the 2011-13 biennium is to find a sustainable funding source.

"We have to keep our eye on the prize, and that is the prize in the 2011 session, a sustainable funding source," Moseley said. It's clear that the Legislature knows it needs to be addressed, he said.

Brenden Clarke, DOT's project engineer for the Bremerton tunnel, attended the meeting and explained the recent change to require all cars getting off the ferry to go through the tunnel and not be allowed to turn right onto Washington Avenue.

He said that even though turning right on Park Avenue skirting the downtown area is more circuitous, it will probably be faster because cars won't have to wait at all of the traffic signals and crosswalks, and that the roads can handle the traffic. With all the new development downtown, and more planned, bringing more pedestrians, DOT wanted to lessen the chance of vehicle-pedestrian accidents, he said.

Powered by Qumana

WSDOT posts its quarterly performance report

Date: Friday, June 05, 2009

Contact: Daniela Bremmer, Director of Strategic Assessment, 360-705-7953
Jason Nye, Performance Reporting Manager, 360-705-6989

OLYMPIA – Travel volumes in the Puget Sound region appear to be influenced by a downturn in the economy, according to the quarterly Washington State Department of Transportation performance report, the Gray Notebook, which was posted on-line this week.

The Gray Notebook for the quarter ending March 31, 2009 includes a special report on the effects of the economic recession on travel demand in the central Puget Sound. The report is now available at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/accountability.

This edition marks the first quarterly report on federal stimulus projects. WSDOT begins its reporting on the estimated $492 million received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for state and local highway construction projects. Of that amount, $345 million will fund state highway projects, while the remaining $148 million will fund city and county projects.

The quarterly report for WSDOT’s Capital Project Delivery Program as of March 31 shows that WSDOT has delivered a total of 186 Nickel and Transportation Partnership Account (TPA) projects valued at $1.934 billion, and on target with the funding provided in the 2007-09 transportation budget. At quarter end, WSDOT had completed 186 projects, 79 projects were under construction, and 20 projects advertised for construction bids. An additional 16 projects are scheduled to be advertised by September 30, 2009. Ninety percent of Nickel and TPA projects combined are early or on time, 86 percent are under or on budget, and 78 percent are both on time and on budget.

In addition, there are annual reports for winter maintenance, freight, safety rest areas, aviation, traveler information, commute options, and two environmental programs. Also WSDOT provides quarterly updates on worker safety, workforce levels and training, highway incident response, Washington State Ferries, Amtrak Cascades, and project delivery.

Powered by Qumana