Ferry fares face dramatic hit

While ferry fares will be going up systemwide, islanders who regularly travel to the mainland and back may be hurt the most of all. Or, as state Representative Jeff Morris (D - Anacortes) put it, “The most dramatic hit is in the San Juans.”

Nothing is set in stone, however, and Morris advises islanders “to be very vocal” when Washington State Ferries holds open houses and public meetings on all four islands March 1-2.

The sessions will provide an opportunity for Washington State Ferries to explain its proposed two-tier, frequent-user discount program that was endorsed in December by the Washington State Ferries Tariff Policy Committee, and for islanders to comment on the plan.

The state Transportation Commission agreed to submit it for public comment at a hearing in Olympia on Jan. 18.

If approved, those who now rely on the coupon booklets which contain five tickets that must be used within a 90-day period, will be subject to paying “convenience” rates, which will be 20 percent higher on average than they are today. Commuter rates will also be available, but they will have to be used within 30 days. The commuter rates will be about 6 percent higher than they are today.

Most ferry riders elsewhere in the system are true commuters who will qualify for the commuter rates. Few islanders, however, commute to the mainland and, therefore, will be forced to pay the more-expensive “convenience” fares.

If eventually approved, the two-tier program will be introduced in September, when the ferry system substitutes coupon books for its its new electronic fare system. A final decision on the new rate structure is likely when the Transportation Commission meets next April.

One thing that the proposal has already accomplished is to incur the wrath of about 150 islanders who sent e-mails to local legislators opposing the plan.

Orcas islanders who got wind of the changes contacted members of the Senate and House transportation committees. They include State Senator Harriet Spanel (D - Bellingham) and Morris, both of whom represent the San Juans. E-mails were also sent to San Juan Islands Ferry Advisory Chairman Bob Distler.

Single ticket prices throughout much of the system are also expected to rise this year, and by an additional 5 percent, under the so-called “5+5+5” business plan authored by former Ferries CEO Mike Thorne. The price hike will be even higher on the Anacortes - Friday Harbor route, because Washington State Ferries has yet to completely phase in “route equity” on that particular route. “Route equity” will enable Washington State Ferries to base all prices in the system on the length of each route.

Distler and Morris testified jointly against the two-tier program during the Jan. 18 meeting of the Transportation Commission. Spanel and state Representative Dave Quall (D - Mount Vernon) wrote letters opposing the rate structure.

The public meetings March 2 will be as follows: Lopez, 11 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.; San Juan Island, 3:15 to 5 p.m.; and Orcas, 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Shaw meeting will take place March 1, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the Shaw Community Center.

County commissioners Alan Lichter and Kevin Ranker also sent a letter to the state commission opposing the discount reduction.

Distler advised islanders that both the ferry system and Washington State government as a whole have dire financial problems and, therefore, local people need to propose revenue neutral alternatives to the new plan. One possibility, he said, would be to increase the summer surcharge. WSF Chief Financial Officer Sam Kuntz said, “We’re asking ourselves, what might be solutions that people will feel good about?” But he offered no solutions.

The new system is expected to raise an additional $1.7 million, Kuntz said. Of that amount, $200,000 is projected to come from the San Juans. Kuntz did acknowledge, however, that “a larger percentage of people from the San Juans will be affected.

PROPOSED CAR AND DRIVER COUPON FARES

Anacortes - Lopez

Now $86.25

30-day commuter fares $91

90 day convenience fares $103.25

Anacortes-Shaw-Orcas

Now $104.25

30-day commuter fares $108.75

90-day convenience fares $123.25

Anacortes - Friday Harbor

Now $121

30-day commuter fares $129

90-day convenience fares $146.25

Inter-Island

Now $55

30-day commuter fares $55

90-day convenience fares -- $62

Passenger Books (10 tickets)

Now $61.80

30-day commuter fares $65

60-day convenience fares $35 (for five tickets)

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