By JOE ULATOSKI
Frequent ferry-user discounts are threatened, and peak-hour surcharges are apparently on the horizon unless we act. These, taken together, could result in an increase of between 25 and 40 percent for a very significant number of ferry-users on Vashon and in the Puget Sound region.
Language ensuring the economic impact on Vashon’s frequent ferry users in setting fares would be seriously considered was deleted from the Revised Code of Washington last year by the passage of the bill that froze ferry fares until September 2009. At the time it was apparently stated that the deletion was unintentional and the language would be restored this year. With that in mind, Rep. Sherry Appleton (D-Poulsbo) introduced a bill (HB 2718) to restore the deleted language. Last Wednesday she was advised by the Transportation Committee Chair, Rep. Judy Clibborn (D-Mercer Island), that the deletion was intentional and there would not be a hearing on the bill. Subsequently, Rep. Clibborn apparently agreed to have a hearing on the bill if the words “shall consider” were deleted and the words “may consider” were substituted. Apparently, in order to get the bill to the floor, Rep. Appleton agreed to the change.
Simply put, the Legislature punted. Instead of protecting us by requiring the executive branch (the governor, secretary of transportation, transportation commission and the Washington State Ferry executives) to seriously consider the social and economic impacts such price increases will have on affected individuals and communities, the Legislature will apparently leave the decision as to whether or not to consider these factors up to the executive branch. This appears to be an abrogation of the Legislature’s responsibility.
The governor, the Legislature, the Transportation Commission and the state ferry system have all failed us and allowed the current ferry mess to happen. Since this is an election year, there will never be a better time to register our anger and frustration. We need to tell those responsible if they continue to treat us like supplicants, we will express our displeasure in no uncertain terms at the ballot box. All ferry users should be extremely concerned with the political “soft shoe dance” that is occuring.
The members of the House Transportation Committee should hear from those of us who depend on frequent user fares and the ferry system. A list of the members of the committee can be found at www.leg.wa.gov/house/committees/tr. Tell them that they should support Rep. Appleton’s bill (HB 2718) as initially submitted.
Also, write to Gov. Christine Gregoire and Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond to register your displeasure and ask them to ensure that the impact of such ferry fare changes on affected individuals and communities will be seriously considered and discussed with those who are impacted before any action is taken. It’s especially imperative in light of already badly degraded and increasingly expensive service.
If we don’t get the attention of our elected officials now, we can be reasonably certain that our voices will not be heard after the election. Act now! If we don’t, we can’t complain about what will be done to us later.
— Joe Ulatoski, a retired brigadier general, was last year’s Grand Marshal in the Strawberry Festival parade.
