WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES

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List of stories about Washington State Ferries

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List of stories about Washington State Ferries

WSF wants islanders' opinion on two-tier pricing system

posted 03/11/02
Do islanders want a day-of-the-week pricing system and would they prefer the reduced fares on Sunday-Tuesday or Monday-Wednesday? Washington State Ferries staff including new CEO Michael G. Thorne traveled to the islands last week (March 6, 2002) to find out. The attendance at each of the forums held on Lopez, Orcas and Friday Harbor averaged about 20 residents. Opinions are still being gathered via a feedback form on the WSF Web site. A final decision on the two-tier pricing system will be made April 4, 2002.

WSF Planning Director Ray Deardorf said the day-of-week pricing idea was a result of input from San Juan Islanders at last year's forums. In response to early input from islanders, an additional option was added. Deardorf asked if residents would prefer to see the lower fares on Sunday through Tuesday rather than Monday through Wednesday. At the Friday Harbor forum, nine participants voted for the Sun-Tues option, one voted for the Mon-Wed and five preferred neither option.

Friday Harbor resident Jan Osborn said most islanders would be unaffected since they use tickets from commuter books. Alice Tawresey, chair of the WSF Tariff Policy Committee, said 35 percent of drivers on the Anacortes-San Juans route use the frequent user tickets.

The open house format provided opportunities for residents to ask questions of WSF officials, Tariff Policy Committee members, and San Juan Ferry Advisory Committee members. Tawresey explained the tariff policy committee's work. "It looks at the total dollar, rearranges deck chairs, and decides who will pay which portion. We try to make fares rational." The committee has adopted route equity as the basis for the fares. Rates are based on distance.

In an effort to accomplish route equity, the fare increases in the San Juans have been higher than on other routes. The proposed fare increase for 2002 is 12.5 percent system-wide and an additional 5 percent in the San Juans. The only route not based on distance is the Sidney, B.C. run. That route is based on market comparisons to other British Columbia routes.

The chart below shows the relationship between the proposed fare and the percentage needed to achieve route equity. For example, fares for the Anacortes-Friday Harbor route need to be priced 1.64 times the Seattle-Bainbridge route in order to meet route equity. If the proposed fares are adopted the route will be 1.47 times the Bainbridge route.

WSF Planning Director Ray Deardorf noted the Anacortes-Lopez route will also be at the target after the 2002 increases. Therefore future fare increases for Lopez will be less than for Shaw, Orcas and San Juan Islands.

Change in ferry schedule will accommodate open house

posted 03/01/02
Washington State Ferries will hold three open houses in San Juan County on March 6 to gather public comment on the proposed day-of-week fare pricing. In an effort to make it possible for Orcas , Lopez and Shaw residents to attend the evening session in Friday Harbor, the 8 p.m. sailing will be changed.

• Lopez Island: 10 to noon Wednesday, March 6 at Legion Hall, 1425 Fisherman Bay Rd., Lopez Island
  
  
• Orcas Island 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 in the Orcas Center (Auditorium) 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound
  
  
• Friday Harbor 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 in the Mullis Community Center 589 Nash St., Friday Harbor.

On March 6, the Sealth will depart Friday Harbor at 8:20 p.m. stopping at Lopez at 9 p.m. before proceeding to Anacortes. Shaw and Orcas meeting attendees will be able to disembark at Lopez and board the 9:10 p.m. sailing to return home.

San Juan Ferry Advisory Committee chair Bob Distler asked the county commissioners at their Feb. 26 meeting what kind of format they would prefer to see at the ferry meetings. "We need to have a presentation to fully explain the day of week pricing concept," he said. After the presentation, the meeting could be an open house format with citizens asking questions one-on-one to WSF personnel. Or it could be a "stand up and talk type of meeting."

Commissioner Darcie Nielsen suggested an hour of the open house format followed by an hour of people standing up and expressing their opinions.

Commissioner Rhea Miller said it was likely attendance would be very light at the Lopez meeting. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. which conflicts with many workers. Others won't show up because "everyone feels disempowered from last round," she said. Distler agreed to ask WSF to adapt the Lopez format depending on the turnout.

Commissioner John Evans said, "I find the whole thing pretty depressing. Feel we'll have little influence on what ultimately happens. It feels like the boat has literally sailed on this."

While fares are going to increase, Distler says the concept of day-of-week pricing is "totally in our hands." Under the plan, prices 39 weeks of the year would be lower on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. To make the proposal revenue neutral, the fares during the 13 week summer period would be raised accordingly. People who use the coupon books are not affected by the day-of-week pricing system.

The two-tier ferry fare affects all classes of vehicles. Distler noted it would benefit commercial haulers three days per week. "It will benefit some people,"he said."Our task is to try to find a way to get as many individual reactions as possible. We need to focus in and accept reality of the situation.