Post by ferryfast admin on Feb 24, 2006 23:54:02 GMT -5
Web posted February 24, 2006
State slashes fast ferry winter runs
Administration won't order more boats, saying program is a failed experiment
By ELIZABETH BLUEMINK
JUNEAU EMPIRE
juneauempire.com/
The fast ferries Fairweather and Chenega will not run their regional routes in Southeast Alaska and Prince William Sound next winter, and the state will not purchase two more such vessels, state officials have decided.
The two ferries will continue regular service in their more heavily trafficked May-September season, said Robin Taylor, the state's director of marine transportation.
In the winter, either the ferries will be tied up or some other routes will be established for them, such as shuttle service between Juneau and Haines, Taylor said.
The main reason the 2006-2007 regional fast ferry winter schedule will be axed is that experimental runs for the fast ferries in Southeast Alaska this winter were a failure, Taylor said.
"We found through experience that it's too rough a ride and too hard on the equipment," Taylor said. The ferries also did not get enough ridership, he said.
Critics claim the state's winter experiment - multiple runs per week between Ketchikan, Juneau and Petersburg - was designed for failure.
"They've never given it a chance," said Tim Bourcy, mayor of Skagway, referring to fast ferries, in general.
Former state ferry chief Bob Doll said the Murkowski administration's pessimistic stance on the fast ferries defies the public's desire for their use.
"It's regrettable that a transportation mode so much accepted by the traveling public hasn't found favor with the administration. The public loves them, but the administration can't see clear to meeting that public expectation," said Doll, now a Juneau Assembly member.
The city of Skagway, the Marine Transportation Advisory Board and Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, all have advocated recently for the state to retain year-round fast ferry service in Lynn Canal.
The state is "stuck" with the Chenega and the Fairweather and the docks and terminals that were built for them, Taylor said. "I'm very hopeful this summer they will establish themselves as viable in Prince William Sound and also in Southeast Alaska," he said.
But Taylor said such success appears to be unattainable in the winter, due to weather problems and low ridership.
For example, on 29 scheduled trips between Ketchikan to Petersburg this winter, "we sucked up 14 logs (in the engines). We were sucking up a log every other trip," Taylor said.
Both fast ferries also sustained structural damage caused by large waves, Taylor said. Though the ferries were designed to run in 13-foot waves, they are no longer allowed by the Coast Guard to operate when waves exceed 10 feet, he said.
Statistics provided to the state's Marine Transportation Advisory Board last week showed the fast ferry Fairweather carrying 19 percent of its passenger capacity during its winter sailings. Its sister ship, the Chenega, was at 11 percent of its capacity, according to The Associated Press.
The 240-foot-long catamarans each can carry 250 passengers and about 35 cars or trucks.
The Chenega had an average weekly revenue of $8,968 on its three-day-per-week winter runs between Ketchikan and Petersburg. Its weekly operating cost was $278,000, according to a state report.
In contrast, the Fairweather had an average winter weekly revenue of $34,472 and a weekly operating cost of $226,900.
Bourcy said the state should make better financial decisions with the ferries.
"Until they get the politics out of transportation, its going to continue to be a problem," Bourcy said.
Skagway received six ferries - including mainliners - per week this winter, and that was quite a few more ferry stops than that town needed, Bourcy explained. "If they wanted to save money, that's something they could adjust," he said.
Taylor said the state actually improved its ferry schedule and ridership in 2005.
The 2005-2006 winter fare reduction of 30 percent has resulted in a 48 percent increase in winter ridership and an 18 percent increase in net revenue, Taylor said.
The reduced rates had a major effect on ferry ridership to Pelican, Taylor noted. Previously, the ferries traveling to Pelican carried an average of 10 people per run. "This year, we averaged about 195 people per run," Taylor said.
"Those are all good positive (numbers)," Taylor said.
• Elizabeth Bluemink can be reached at elizabeth.bluemink@juneauempire.com.
State slashes fast ferry winter runs
Administration won't order more boats, saying program is a failed experiment
By ELIZABETH BLUEMINK
JUNEAU EMPIRE
juneauempire.com/
The fast ferries Fairweather and Chenega will not run their regional routes in Southeast Alaska and Prince William Sound next winter, and the state will not purchase two more such vessels, state officials have decided.
The two ferries will continue regular service in their more heavily trafficked May-September season, said Robin Taylor, the state's director of marine transportation.
In the winter, either the ferries will be tied up or some other routes will be established for them, such as shuttle service between Juneau and Haines, Taylor said.
The main reason the 2006-2007 regional fast ferry winter schedule will be axed is that experimental runs for the fast ferries in Southeast Alaska this winter were a failure, Taylor said.
"We found through experience that it's too rough a ride and too hard on the equipment," Taylor said. The ferries also did not get enough ridership, he said.
Critics claim the state's winter experiment - multiple runs per week between Ketchikan, Juneau and Petersburg - was designed for failure.
"They've never given it a chance," said Tim Bourcy, mayor of Skagway, referring to fast ferries, in general.
Former state ferry chief Bob Doll said the Murkowski administration's pessimistic stance on the fast ferries defies the public's desire for their use.
"It's regrettable that a transportation mode so much accepted by the traveling public hasn't found favor with the administration. The public loves them, but the administration can't see clear to meeting that public expectation," said Doll, now a Juneau Assembly member.
The city of Skagway, the Marine Transportation Advisory Board and Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, all have advocated recently for the state to retain year-round fast ferry service in Lynn Canal.
The state is "stuck" with the Chenega and the Fairweather and the docks and terminals that were built for them, Taylor said. "I'm very hopeful this summer they will establish themselves as viable in Prince William Sound and also in Southeast Alaska," he said.
But Taylor said such success appears to be unattainable in the winter, due to weather problems and low ridership.
For example, on 29 scheduled trips between Ketchikan to Petersburg this winter, "we sucked up 14 logs (in the engines). We were sucking up a log every other trip," Taylor said.
Both fast ferries also sustained structural damage caused by large waves, Taylor said. Though the ferries were designed to run in 13-foot waves, they are no longer allowed by the Coast Guard to operate when waves exceed 10 feet, he said.
Statistics provided to the state's Marine Transportation Advisory Board last week showed the fast ferry Fairweather carrying 19 percent of its passenger capacity during its winter sailings. Its sister ship, the Chenega, was at 11 percent of its capacity, according to The Associated Press.
The 240-foot-long catamarans each can carry 250 passengers and about 35 cars or trucks.
The Chenega had an average weekly revenue of $8,968 on its three-day-per-week winter runs between Ketchikan and Petersburg. Its weekly operating cost was $278,000, according to a state report.
In contrast, the Fairweather had an average winter weekly revenue of $34,472 and a weekly operating cost of $226,900.
Bourcy said the state should make better financial decisions with the ferries.
"Until they get the politics out of transportation, its going to continue to be a problem," Bourcy said.
Skagway received six ferries - including mainliners - per week this winter, and that was quite a few more ferry stops than that town needed, Bourcy explained. "If they wanted to save money, that's something they could adjust," he said.
Taylor said the state actually improved its ferry schedule and ridership in 2005.
The 2005-2006 winter fare reduction of 30 percent has resulted in a 48 percent increase in winter ridership and an 18 percent increase in net revenue, Taylor said.
The reduced rates had a major effect on ferry ridership to Pelican, Taylor noted. Previously, the ferries traveling to Pelican carried an average of 10 people per run. "This year, we averaged about 195 people per run," Taylor said.
"Those are all good positive (numbers)," Taylor said.
• Elizabeth Bluemink can be reached at elizabeth.bluemink@juneauempire.com.