A significant grassroots effort, spearheaded by Vashon and other ferry-served communities, culminated last week.

The Legislature passed the transportation budget, and we have reasons to be cautiously optimistic. Victories included the death of Plan B, which would have created hardships for many of the busiest and most ferry-dependent communities, and construction of three 64-car ferries for use on the Port Townsend/Kingston and Point Defiance/Tahlequah runs. They also included moving up scheduled construction of a desperately needed 144-car boat to 2013, recommendation of an annual 2.5 percent rate increase and focusing state funds on ferry construction instead of terminals.

Overall, it seems these are good, solid first steps to beginning to rebuild a ferry fleet that has had limited attention and virtually no funding for nine years. It indicates some commitment from the Legislature, particularly the House, and understanding of our reliance on ferries for a variety of essential services and our future prosperity. However, critical issues remain unresolved, and ferry communities could still be impacted by issues hiding in the not-so-small print of the budget bill.

There still is no stable, long-term statewide funding for Washington State Ferries. The 144-car vessels, initially promised in 2003, may still never be built if there is no funding. The Senate, committed to building three 64-car vessels and a 144-car boat, inserted a provision that if there weren’t enough money for that big ferry, a fourth smaller ferry would be built instead. Reservation systems are still in the mix, and the annual fare/tax increase on ferry service will be determined by Gov. Chris Gregoire’s Transportation Commission. Given that the group is basically unchanged in its attitude toward ferries, that it recommended to the governor a 5 to 6 percent annual increase in ferry fares and that it supports the reservation system, it is pretty clear its members have little understanding of the economic impacts ferry-served communities face and won’t provide much support. Fuel surcharges will still be charged without any apparent budgeting of expenses on an annual basis, and summer rates will continue to be in effect, directly affecting the pocketbooks of frequent users.

Because our ferry system is the largest in the United States, testimony by Washington State Ferries and the support of their cause by Sen. Patty Murray has resulted in a bill calling for a dramatic increase in federal funding. Ironically, because our state passed a “Made in Washington” mandate, those funds can’t be used to build vessels. Terminals can be built, repairs can be made to older hulls, but vessels needed to reinforce our aging fleet are not an option. Whether using federal money for the Mukilteo and other terminal construction projects slated in current state legislation might free up enough money for larger ferries is still a good question.

What does all this mean? It means the ferry advocacy groups, such as the Vashon ferry transportation outreach committee, the Ferry Community Partnership and Citizens for Plan C, need to speak with one voice. It means all ferry- using communities need to increase active participation, that strategies must be developed for the coming sessions, including educating ourselves and continuing to work closely with the legislators on the Ferry Coalition and WSF toward the common goal of a reliable, efficient, economic ferry fleet. It means sending an even stronger message to our governor and Legislature to ensure they fulfill their promises.

Via letter-writing campaigns, citizen lobbying and rallies, the message to Olympia must be that we are watchful of commitments made and money spent on ferries — that grassroots organizations and local and state legislators will work to ensure the ferry crisis is resolved and will never occur again.

None of the foregoing can happen without greater participation of the people affected. Instead of seven people from Vashon plus support from other communities leading the charge, we need active participation of at least three times that number to be effective. So, in the end, it is up to you and the efforts you are willing to put forth and to fight the fight.

— Kari Ulatoski chairs Vashon’s transportation committee.