PORT TOWNSEND — Washington State Ferries lacks the funds to continue operating at current levels after 2013 so it is likely that state voters will be asked to approve a tax increase for that purpose, the system’s director said Monday.
“I have said this before and will keep saying it until it is fixed, but the ferry system is not sustainable,” said Assistant Transportation Secretary David Moseley at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s weekly meeting.
“Not only are we in the red, but the funds that we have relied upon as a backup are depleted.”
About 50 people attended the meeting.
Moseley said that when Gov. Chris Gregoire’s Connecting Washington Task Force, which has its final meeting this month, makes a recommendation, he expects it will involve new funding avenues.
He said he didn’t know what kind of tax might be considered, but that it could go before voters as early as next November.
“This is a message of hope,” said Moseley, who is the head of the state ferries system.
“This is the best shot that the ferry system has to get a sustainable funding source since 1999 and we lost the car tabs.”
In 1999, voters approved Initiative 695, which limited the state’s motor vehicle excise tax.
Moseley said that the state ferries system already has made spending cuts adding up to about $40 million a year.
Cuts include consists of labor concessions for wages and overtime rates.
Fuel costs have risen from 10 percent of operations to 29 percent, something that could be addressed by retrofitting ferries to run on liquid natural gas instead of diesel.
“Cutting fuel costs is something we need to look at very closely,” Moseley said.
“Aside from the cost, using liquid natural gas is more favorable for the environment because it reduces emissions.”
Ridership
Moseley said that ridership has increased on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route since two boats began servicing the route this summer, although it is not at the level reached before the Steel Electric ferries were taken out of operation in 2007.
“We will get there in the very near future,” he said.
Two ferries, the Chetzemoka and the Salish, operated on the route during the summer, which is now serviced by the Salish alone.
In January a third new ferry, the Kennewick, will begin on the route and the Salish will become a backup boat.
The Chetzemoka, after repairs on the propeller are completed, will replace an old ferry on the Port Defiance-Tallequah route.
Moseley said that both of the Chetzemoka’s flaws — in the cooling system and the propeller — are defects that will most likely be covered by the manufacturer.
As for the Salish, he assured those present that it would return to the local route and provide two-boat service through the summer.
Moseley said that one priority is the modernization of the reservation system, which he hopes will be in place by the summer tourist season.
“We want to make it easier for our customers, so they can be certain about what boat they will take and won’t have to wait in line for several hours,” he said.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
