Once again, The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries Division is hosting public meetings in ferry communities around Puget Sound. These meetings will give the public an opportunity to exchange ideas and information regarding operational and pricing strategies and will give the Ferries Division an opportunity to understand the priorities of their customers at the individual and community level. The information gathered at these meetings will help inform the development of the long-range plan for the ferry system, said Joy Goldenberg, Ferries Division Communications Manager on June 13.
On the Anacortes-San Juan Islands – Sidney BC route, the meetings will be held:
Thurs., June 19, at the Anacortes’ Fidalgo Senior Center (1701 22nd Street, Anacortes) 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Thurs., June 26, San Juan Islands, at the Mullis Senior Center (589 Nash Street, Friday Harbor) 2:30 to 5 p.m.
The WSDOT Ferries Division has spent the last year working to address the long-term financial sustainability of the ferry system, said Goldenberg.
This work stems from 2007 legislation that identified specific topics for study and requires new levels of cooperation and collaboration between the Washington State Legislature, Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) and WSDOT. During the meetings in March, public ferry advisory committees (FAC) focused on vehicle level of service and ridership forecasts. “We learned that our riders want improved access in and out of the terminals, easy to use ticketing systems and opportunities to be involved throughout the long-range planning process,” said Goldenberg.
“In September, we will return to our ferry communities for another round of public meetings to share initial concepts for the revised long-range plan, which will integrate results from the March and June meetings. Then, we will be back in late November/December for hearings on the revised long-range plan,” said Goldenberg.
David Moseley, Assistant Secretary for WSDOT Ferries Division said in an email last week, “Next week I will be traveling around the ferry system attending the first few FAC workshops. I am really looking forward to these meetings, which are designed to give our customers and community members an opportunity to exchange ideas and information about the ferry finance work plan and specific operational and pricing strategies. We hope to build off the success of our last series of public meetings in March, which were attended by more than 500 people.”
Ferries Division will continue to post new information online at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/planning/ESHB2358.htm.
The Joint Transportation Committee is available at www.leg.wa.gov/JTC/ and the Washington State Transportation Commission at www.wstc.wa.gov for more information.
