By SCOTT DENIES

For The Beachcomber

Do you ever find yourself wondering how the ferry service to Vashon may change? When you waited for over 45 minutes, because a ferry was taken out of service for emergency repairs, do you make a mental list of all the things you would change if you were in charge?

Well, stop thinking about it and do something about it. Take those creative thoughts and put them to good use.

Washington State Ferries (WSF) is in the final stages of developing a long-range plan on how to fund and operate the ferry system. On Oct. 13, you have the opportunity to hear the proposals, learn more about the facts and give your opinion.

Why is this important? This will be your last official chance to influence WSF’s long range plan. This plan, mandated by the Legislature, will have a huge impact on ferry service to our Island community for the next 10 years — perhaps even longer.

Vashon-Maury Island Community Council, its Transportation Committee and the Vashon Ferry Advisory Committee have been very active in commenting on the proposals. WSF has already held three community meetings to gather input.

The meeting on Oct. 13 will be particularly important because WSF will be presenting proposals specific to Vashon and Maury islands. If you want your voice heard, show up and give WSF your opinions on the long-range plan. It is our hope that the comments from this meeting will influence the options WSF presents to the legislature in 2009 on funding, service and pricing.

The Legislature mandated a long-range plan because the ferry system is facing serious financial pressures — an estimated $4 billion deficit from dedicated funding sources over the next 22 years if nothing changes. The primary strategy that is emerging for dealing with the financial issue is to propose incentives that reduce peak period demand to maintain the same size boats instead of increasing the size or number of boats in the future when at all possible.

So what do we know so far? WSF would like better coordination with public transit systems during peak periods. WSF is seriously considering reservation systems for vehicles for up to 90 percent of a boat’s capacity. All of WSF’s options propose some form of pricing incentives to reduce peak period demand by vehicles.

The options include increased vehicle prices for peak-period use, possible vehicle fare reductions for off-peak period use and reduced passenger fares. The pricing changes being proposed also include charging less for smaller vehicles, as opposed to the single price for any vehicle up to 20 feet in length. Another pricing option includes the elimination of the frequent user discounts or changing the discounted fares to reflect the seasonal pricing changes.

So what do you think? What do you want the WSF to hear? Join your neighbors at this important public meeting. Your voice is needed to help drive the best outcome for our Island community.

— Scott DeNies is a member of the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council’s Transportation Committee.