WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES

Ferry advisory committee reallocating Orcas and FH spaces to Lopez

posted 05/09/2007
The San Juan Ferry Advisory Committee has decided to take 10 spaces from the 6 a.m. sailing out of Friday Harbor and 20 spaces from the 9:40 sailing out of Orcas Island and set them aside for Lopez Island drivers. According to SJFAC Chair Alex MacLeod Lopez Island faces overloads all daylong in the summer and he thinks the reallocation will help alleviate the problem.

He told the county commissioners the FAC reached this decision by looking at the records kept by the terminal agents last summer.

County Councilmember Kevin Ranker was "adamantly opposed" to the idea. "You've had no public input, no council input. I think we need public input."

Councilmember Bob Myhr, who represents Lopez and Shaw Islands, said, "They are not doing things willy nilly. They have done research. It is important we don't try to second guess. They are representatives from the community and the major islands. I think you are over-reacting."

According to the county resolution under which the San Juan FAC operates, the FAC is supposed to hold monthly meetings. They are to be advertised and open to the public. The FAC has not held any such meetings in months.

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