PETITION FOR SUSTAINABLE FERRY FUNDING

To: Gov. Christine Gregoire. members of the Washington State Legislature, and members of the Washington State Transportation Commission:

We the undersigned are residents of San Juan County, Washington. We are deeply concerned about the escalation and impact of WSF’s annual fare increases, as well as the overall financial health of the state ferry system. The cumulative economic impact of the steep increases in ferry fares over the last five years keeps mounting, seriously threatening the sustainability of our communities. These increases cannot continue without crippling the economic health, social diversity and vitality of our islands.

We are completely dependent on the state ferry system. Ferries are our only highway home, providing our connection to both inter-island and mainland destinations. We depend on the ferries for public transit, and the delivery of our goods and services. Funding WSF’s ever-increasing operating costs, as well as a portion of its capital needs, through the fare-box cannot be sustained and is an unfair burden to our captive communities.

We ask for immediate consideration and legislative action to:
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* Instruct the State Transportation Commission to hold to the 2.5% general fare increasein the Governor’s budget, not the 4% it has recommended for imposition May 1.
* Require that an Economic Impact Study be done of San Juan Countythat assesses the impacts of tariff increases since the repeal of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax, and prior to the imposition of any future general tariff increases in excess of 2.5%.
* Increase tax-based revenues to WSF operating expense budgetto hold fare increases to 2.5% annually, recognizing that fare-box revenues already are contributing a much higher share of operating costs in comparison to other public transportation systems.
* Dedicate tax revenues to the State ferry system to providea sound long-term foundation to fund both operating and capital requirements. Capital funding must be independent of the fare-box.
* Cancel plans to initiate tariff–based priority loading on WSF ferries. Say NO to “buying your way to the head of the line,” where simply a willingness to pay a higher fare is rewarded with priority loading.

submitted to the Update by

Anne Sheridan Photography & Fine Art
PO Box 487 / 135 Second Street
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360 378-7286
www.AnneSheridanPhotography.com