Washington State Transportation Commission, WSTC, held a public meeting on-board an inter-island ferry Monday, Aug. 31. The meeting was an opportunity for public comment regarding WSTC proposed ferry fare increases.

If adopted, inter-island fares for a vehicle and driver would increase 7.5% as of Oct. 11, 2009. The current inter-island fare for auto and driver is $16.95. The proposal would increase that fare to $17.95 in Oct. of this year. Another increase to $18.75 is proposed for Oct. 2010.

The commission plans to adopt that increase on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at a public hearing in Seattle.

The meeting on Aug. 31 commenced at 11:30 a.m. and concluded after 1 p.m. It gathered San Juan County residents from each island along the route.

Mike Aley of Orcas Island Freight Lines said one of his largest costs as a business is getting trucks where they need to be via the ferry. Multi-ride discounts are not available for commercial vehicles.

Aley said, “We’re not going very many miles, but those miles are expensive, and man, it stings.”

WSTC vice chair and Orcas resident Bob Distler told the Sounder, “Everybody has a reason why they want and deserve a discount and every time you give a discount you reduce revenue.”

Distler commented that ferry service is expensive to provide and that it is a part of life in the San Juans that needs to be accepted by its residents. Distler said a combination of higher fares and tax revenue is the only way to meet the budget shortfall without reducing service.

Executive Director of Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce Lance Evans told the Sounder, “I think additional costs associated with getting to Orcas Island are always going to impact our visitors, and ferry increases are always a part of that. The real issue here is the legislature’s inability to find a permanent funding source for our ferry system. Yes, incremental increases are expected, but I think it is sort-of short-sighted on their part.”

Noting the fare increase will impact more people than visitors to the San Juans, Patricia McKay of Island Concrete Products on San Juan Island said, “Commercial drivers use our ferries all year round. They use it winter, spring, summer, and fall. Why should they get penalized in the summer?”

McKay noted that the local government and school systems are currently struggling financially and this would cost those agencies more also.

The San Juan County Council convened during the WSTC meeting to hear public reaction as a group and to articulate how the fare increase would effect their constituency.

San Juan County Council member Howie Rosenfeld said, “We think this isn’t wise. You need to be concerned with long-range, sustainable funding for all our transportation needs.”

“This is our highway,” said San Juan County Council member Lovel Pratt. “This is the way we connect with our community. We’re the only county where the way we connect to each other is on ferry roads.”

Pratt stated that when fares have increased in the past, ridership has decreased.

“Our choice about how we go off-island is dictated by ferry fares,” Pratt said.

In response to public commentary, WSTC member Elmira Forner of north central Washington said, “We cannot afford to let any part of our transportation system fail.”

WSTC chair Carol Moser described the commission as a bridge between the public and the legislature. “And we get walked on both ways,” said Moser.

Monday’s meeting was the first of three opportunities in one week for the public to voice concerns about ferry fare increases in a WSTC forum. The next meeting was held Tuesday, Sept. 1 in Silverdale followed by Wednesday, Sept. 2 on Vashon Island.

The commission plans to take action to increase fares at the public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Puget Sound Regional Council in Seattle. The public is able to testify during the meeting via conference call at (712) 432-1620 using PIN# 404317.

Public commentary is accepted by WSTC via mail, email, and phone. Information is available at http:wstc.wa.gov/FerryFareSetting2009.