Unapproved Minutes
VMICC TLC Committee Meeting
Wednesday, January 24, 2001, 7:30 PM
Chautauqua School

Willem Maas, Chair of the VMICC Transportation Lifeline Committee and the 
VMICC Transportation Committee, opened the meeting by introducing several 
guests from the Washington State Ferry System - Ray Deardorff, Pat Patterson 
and Michael Hodgins as well as David Freiboth, President of the Inland 
Boatman¹s Union. Also present were Bruce Eckland, from Dow Constantine¹s 
office and Doug Johnson from Metro Transit.

Willem then provided a status report to the Committee on the current ferry 
situation, and particularly the passenger only situation. He announced that 
there will be a public meeting on February 7th, and the result of that 
meeting, and several others like it, will be incorporated into 
recommendations to the Transportation Commission on March 28th. He stated 
that nothing is final yet, and that the purpose of this meeting and the one 
next week is to formulate the Island¹s position, work with other ferry 
dependent communities, and take a preferred solution to Olympia on February
22nd and to the Legislature.

A year ago, we were talking about saving the passenger only boat, and that is 
still true today. The State legislature understands that car ferries are part 
of the highway system but passenger only boats are part of the mass transit 
system, and how they work, what¹s fair, and what the rules are is yet to be 
determined. Pertinent aspects of the study by the ferry committee included:

… The ferry legislative taskforce addressed efficiency, age, waste, 
duplication and other issues, but it is still not certain the passenger only 
boat will survive. 
… The POF service began in l990, and charged the same fare as a passenger on
the car ferry. There was no recognition of the true costs of the service, 
and as a consequence, fare box revenues have accounted for only between 10% 
and 18% of operating costs. 
… Because of all the tax initiatives, especially 601 and 695, the state has 
lost significant revenues, which subsidized ferry service in the past. 
… Without this general tax subsidy, there has been a recognition that users 
will have to pay for services to cover operating cost to the extent feasible 
and ensure that the Legislature steps up to providing for over $275 million 
in capital costs for boats and terminals over the next biennium.
… The State¹s GOAL is that within 6 years fare box returns will pay for 80% 
of operating costs and in 20 years, they will pay 100%; with fare increases 
phased in over time. This is the plan for the car ferry increases, and it 
is still very much a possibility for the passenger only ferries. 
… There are 1.2 million people in the ferry dependent communities. If there 
is to be a fee for service, then there must be a dependable and predictable 
source of funding from the State.

Dave Freibboth from the Inland Boatman¹s union spoke for a few minutes. He 
stated that his membership recognizes the financial crisis the State is 
experiencing, and is willing to negotiate some efficiencies, particularly 
relative to part time shifts. Family structures have changed over recent 
years, and part time schedules are not as threatening to stable family 
incomes as they were in the past. He came up through the union ranks, and 
spoke highly of the safety and convenience of ferry service, while 
acknowledging that there are some problems. Freiboth said his membership 
shared our goals of fixing the ferry system, and stressed that privatization 
is not the answer; especially since it would eliminate all involvement of 
citizens and riders.

Attendees at the meeting then commented and asked the following general
concerns:

… The recommended increase in the fare is over 2 times the current fare, 
effective May of this year. This isn¹t justified, and should not be imposed. 
 Buses are subsidized to a far greater extent, and this is our "bus". If 
justified, it should at least be phased in, as recommended for the car 
ferries. People do not pay to drive on highways or bridges, so this isn¹t 
fair and puts far more of the burden of the lost revenues on ferry dependent 
communities..

… When operating expenses for the car ferry are compared to the passenger 
only ferry, it would seem reasonable that costs for the passenger only ferry 
should be far less; since the operational costs associated with transporting 
people vs. cars; and the terminals and staffing differences for PO boats are 
so much less. This would be especially true if other factors, such as 
environmental, were factored in. The problem is that the State has assumed 
the costs for capital costs for the car ferry, but has not done that for the 
passenger only ferry. Revenues from the fare box have covered 60% of 
operating costs; with 40% from gas and mvet monies. MVET funded 75% of the 
capital costs; but that money was eliminated by I 695 and must be replaced on 
an ongoing basis. The legislature used cash reserves to replace it for the 
short term.

… The relative cost of transporting cars versus transporting a person would 
suggest that it would be cheaper all the way around to transport people. Why 
can¹t this be reflected in fares on the POF?

… Tripling the POF fare is "insane"Šshows that the Ferry system has no 
commitment to the passenger only boat. In fact, the perception is that the 
Ferry System would rather the POF boats disappear, because the ferry system 
would have more traffic to pay for car ferry operating costs. Ferry 
spokespeople reassured the committee this is not so, but several in the 
audience voiced similar skepticism because elimination of the POF boat could 
reduce capital and operating costs for the ferry system overall.

… Why aren¹t there tolls for roads? The East coast still has them. If there 
are user fees, then all citizens should pay them.

… Why is there a recommendation to collect fares on both sides? This is not
necessary.
 (Willem explained that this is in fact not the recommendation)

… Why are there so many ticket takers on the dock? Why can¹t there by some
sort of smart ticket or turnstile introduced? Why can¹t tickets be sold at 
commercial retail outlets, eliminating the need for sales at the dock? This 
is not rocket science.

… What has the ferry system offered to do to cut costs? If the union is 
making concessions, and passengers are paying more, what is the ferry system 
offering to do?
Ferry officials responded that 92 management positions have been eliminated,
crews and trips reduced, but that any more reduction will result in a death
spiral.

… Acknowledging that most ferry workers are dedicated and competent, and that 
ferry travel is safe and efficient, what are ferry workers (rank and file) 
willing to do in terms of efficiencies, and what safety and state regulations 
are there that effect staffing and shifts? How much can be saved from 
staffing efficiencies?

… What can be done about excess staffing on the piers? And if we are paying 
for premium service, when can we expect comfortable ferries that run every 
day (not diverted to Bremerton); a real ferry terminal in Seattle with heat, 
bathrooms and a coffee shop.

… Is it true that the ferry system is considering adding staff now? And if 
so, why?

… There is a credibility gap between the request for fare box increases and 
efficiencies. The boats are "crappy" and inefficient. This lack of 
credibility makes it difficult to believe numbers and promises.

… Are the data on fare collection for PO and car ferries accurate? Seems 
that the per capita cost of moving people vs. cars would suggest it should be 
cheaper to move people.

… What are the per capita operating costs for the car ferry?.


Willem then asked for volunteers to work with the committee. The February 7th 
meeting is an Island wide meeting to hear concerns and formulate the Island¹s 
position on the ferry funding. That position will then be shared with other 
island communities, in an attempt to develop a common proposal to take to 
Olympia and the Legislature in February.

Islanders who volunteered to work on the committee include: (others welcome)

Sally Fox Linda Hatfield 
Mike Sudduth Jim and Jodie Warren 
Nota Lucas Kayleen Dawson 
Michelle Morlan (not present; but volunteered) 
Patty Snyder Jerry Long
Cliff Goodman Kathleen Davis
Rod Bordner Laura Snyder
Kyle Kruger George Lewis 
Karen Wissing Ellen Kritzman 
Bob Pinter Jay Becker

It was agreed that the workgroup would meet on Saturday January 27th at 
9:00a.m. at the meeting room at Chautauqua School.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.