Outside the Lines: Ferry Tales VII

Around and aRoundtable!

First things first. If you have an extra 4-5 hours on a Friday afternoon and enjoy watching paint dry you {the public} are invited to attend and observe the GIFC/Public Works Roundtable working meetings. The Ferry Committee will accept written concerns and recommendations from the ridership and bring them forward to the Roundtable for consideration as appropriate. {appropriate for whom?}

Who is interested in your conversation or who you’re conversing with, during the short crossing of the Guemes Ferry? Are there potential terrorists on board? Is this part of Homeland Security? Coast Guard Regulations?

Rumors are flying among the ridership of the Guemes Island Ferry as to whether or not the conversations in the passenger cabin are heard on the bridge. The microphone {equipment appears to be new} is strategically placed so that it is hardly noticeable. Now, finally, after numerous emails to the ferry committee and public works, Steve Cox has agreed to schedule a demonstration of the system for the ferry ridership. The time and date has yet to be established but if you’re interested in the demo, drop an email to Linetime.org.

A new Expense to Revenue Analysis and Extended Service Proposal {emphasis on extended service}, for the Guemes Island Ferry was submitted to Public Works and a request was made to have it put on the May Roundtable Agenda. There is a lot of work by Steven Schmokel and David Wehrly crammed into the 19 pages of the proposal.

Condensed considerably from the volumes that the Ferry Task Force dealt with over the past 1-1/2 years. I haven’t had the opportunity to compare the two proposals and will take a “wait and see” approach until the May Roundtable meeting. It should be an interesting meeting if the new proposal gets on the agenda. Is anyone willing to take bets?

Guemes Ferry Systems Improvements were reviewed along with the estimated date of completion and the estimated cost. {estimated cost of the parking lot was increased $43,833.40 because of a design flaw} Does the Anacortes Terminal need remodeling? Do we need web cameras? How about reader boards on the Anacortes side? {when we can ask a member of the ferry crew about delays} How much do we spend on the waiting room structure for the Guemes side? {no discussion necessary}

There seems to be a need to “plan a plan” to load and unload walk-ons with safety and speed if there is going to be any success for the 20 minute runs. There will be a paradigm shift for the ridership. There is also a need to keep in mind that it is people being loaded not cattle.

Check out the date for the next Roundtable Meeting and consider spending a glorious sunny Friday afternoon at the Mount Vernon Public Works office. As an observer you can leave early, GIFC must remain until the bitter end.

- MJ Andrak