| Outside the Lines: Ferry Tales XXXXIII Fumblings, Mumblings, Grumblings and Rumblings The first sunny Sunday of the year and the annual Guemes Island Ferry Committee meeting coincided this past weekend. The sunshine was a welcome diversion to the dark, gloomy skies of January. The GIFC meeting was not. Long-time committee member Steve Orsini's tenure was up. There were no other nominations. No one else wants the grief that goes along with the job, so Steve is in for another five years. Thanks, Steve. With no other candidate, no ballot election is necessary. That saves the community time and money. The GIFC reviewed the Fare Recovery Model once again. The summer surcharge will be reinstated beginning May 1, 2008 and running through September 30, 2008. Walk-on and passenger fares will incur a surcharge of $1.00. Car and driver surcharge is $2.00. Surcharge will not apply to ticket books or passes, so they will become a much better deal. Elimination of the summer surcharge, two years ago, was a BOCC decision where impact was not considered. Significantly reducing the ticket book discount by the BOCC resulted in 90% cash sales. So many cash transactions cause delays. This became the justification for the 4th crew person, according to the County, who expects us to bite the bullet and put out money for the ticket books without the incentive of a healthy discount just for the sake of efficiency. The senior fare discounts will be reviewed by the Board of County Commissioners. Can you believe the BOCC implemented another decision without thinking it through? Consequently a review is necessary. In order to qualify for Federal funds (should the County ever decide to ask for them) seniors must receive a 50% discount to fares. However, the County, unlike every other system, extended the discount beyond seniors themselves to their vehicles, too. Perhaps they meant to provide a discount to our sometimes very senior vehicles. "Why do it right the first time when you can do it over" and over and over? The ferry committee reiterated what Planning Director Gary Christensen told the Commissioners last month: Public Works is working with a consultant (Eric Toews) to prepare an "Extended SEPA Non-Project Action Checklist" in response to Judge Allendoerfer's ruling, canceling the extended ferry service June 30th "unless and until there is a new, thorough, and SEPA compliant environmental review, including, among other issues, the probability of induced growth, and the direct and indirect adverse environmental impacts resulting from the same.” It seems Skagit County is repeating their original mistake by deciding first to continue late runs and then study potential impacts. Care to predict the study's conclusions? The County is planning to hold a public meeting on Guemes Island in February. A new boarding policy is in effect, at least on weekends. It took some by surprise. Some cars reportedly have been left in the staging area, even though they were in time for departure, and the ferry left with only a few vehicles on board. Pedestrians board either before or after vehicles but not simultaneously, as before. Apparently, all loading ceases one minute before departure, regardless of cars and persons standing by. As usual, we encourage everyone to express themselves. Compliments and complaints have little effect unless expressed to those who make policy and decisions. Commentary by MJ Andrak [1.17.8] Send a message to the Commissioners, Public Works Director and ferry manager.
|
