Post by ferryfast admin on Sept 5, 2007 13:09:15 GMT -5
Cuts urged in ferry routes
Dropping some trips would save state money, audit says
By LARRY LANGE
SEATTLE P-I REPORTER
seattlepi.nwsource.com/
Washington State Ferries should consider further cuts in service to popular routes such as the Seattle to Bremerton and Bainbridge runs to save money and become more efficient, a state audit report said Tuesday.
The idea, which the audit said could save more than $10 million annually along with other efficiencies, did not go down well with some ferry riders, and other state officials said it could cost the system even more.
"We're not saying get rid of routes. Maybe (they) should consider fewer and fuller boats," Auditor's Office spokeswoman Mindy Chambers said.
Paula Hammond, acting state secretary of transportation said, "This is a good thing to consider with the Legislature, as they're trying to patch up the solvency of the ferries."
Service cuts were among several recommendations the state Auditor's Office recommended.
Cutting service is entering a political minefield.
Ferry riders weren't pleased to hear state officials talking about more service cuts, after a number already have taken place to help the system stay financially afloat.
"We already did that," said Mike Sudduth, a Vashon resident and regular ferry rider. "My community, the Vashon community, couldn't handle any more service reduction."
"It's part of the highway system, and it's the only way to get on and off the island," said Alan Mendel, a retired Vashon resident and co-chairman of a ferry advisory committee. He said the state should consider how to continue financing the system, which has drastically raised fares and reduced service since Initiative 695 eliminated much of the system's revenue
Primarily to "provide a level of service" to communities it serves, state ferries "make a large number of trips during non-peak periods with vessels running relatively empty," the audit said.
The audit, using a standard of 60 percent of the vehicle and passenger space being filled on most routes, estimates that the system could save more than $9.6 million a year through a series of service hour reductions on eight ferry routes.
The audit noted a 3 percent drop in ferry ridership between 2003 and 2006, a period in which operating costs rose more than 6 percent, particularly in higher fuel prices.
Possible summer service cuts listed in the audit include one hour each weekday on the Seattle-Bremerton route, two hours a day on the Seattle-Bainbridge route and two hours on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route.
On Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months the audit suggested one-hour service cuts between Seattle and Bremerton and two hours a day from Seattle to Bainbridge and on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route.
The audit suggests that more hours could be trimmed from those three routes during the winter, after tourist season ends, and suggests other cuts on other routes.
It did not use the 60-percent-filled standard for all routes; it said ferries on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run were only used 40 percent at times on summer weekdays, but use of the Fauntleroy-Vashon part of the route by passengers and vehicles was 65 percent on weekdays.
"As such, one in eight runs or approximately four (Fauntleroy-Vashon) runs could be eliminated from the schedule for weekdays summer season," the audit said.
The state Office of Financial Management said the audit assumes, perhaps wrongly, that reducing service hours would still allow travelers to wait no longer than the next sailing to catch a ferry.
"A problem with that theory, however, is not all passengers will catch the next boat" but may simply drive around Puget Sound rather than ride a ferry across it, the office said. "This, in turn, means revenue decreases" for the ferry system.
"People generally feel Kitsap County is going to continue to grow and (ferry) ridership will continue to grow and that generally you never hear a community say, 'cut a run,' " Hammond said.
The audit estimated the rest of the annual $10 million plus savings would come through reorganizing the ferry system's work force at its Eagle Harbor maintenance facility on Bainbridge Island.
FERRY ROUTES
An audit says Washington State Ferries could save more than $10 million a year by cutting service. Among the routes suggested for cuts were:
Seattle-Bremerton -- cutting an hour each weekday during the summer.
Seattle-Bainbridge -- two hours a day during the summer.
Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth -- two hours a day during the summer.
P-I reporter Larry Lange can be reached at 206-448-8313 or larrylange@seattlepi.com.
Dropping some trips would save state money, audit says
By LARRY LANGE
SEATTLE P-I REPORTER
seattlepi.nwsource.com/
Washington State Ferries should consider further cuts in service to popular routes such as the Seattle to Bremerton and Bainbridge runs to save money and become more efficient, a state audit report said Tuesday.
The idea, which the audit said could save more than $10 million annually along with other efficiencies, did not go down well with some ferry riders, and other state officials said it could cost the system even more.
"We're not saying get rid of routes. Maybe (they) should consider fewer and fuller boats," Auditor's Office spokeswoman Mindy Chambers said.
Paula Hammond, acting state secretary of transportation said, "This is a good thing to consider with the Legislature, as they're trying to patch up the solvency of the ferries."
Service cuts were among several recommendations the state Auditor's Office recommended.
Cutting service is entering a political minefield.
Ferry riders weren't pleased to hear state officials talking about more service cuts, after a number already have taken place to help the system stay financially afloat.
"We already did that," said Mike Sudduth, a Vashon resident and regular ferry rider. "My community, the Vashon community, couldn't handle any more service reduction."
"It's part of the highway system, and it's the only way to get on and off the island," said Alan Mendel, a retired Vashon resident and co-chairman of a ferry advisory committee. He said the state should consider how to continue financing the system, which has drastically raised fares and reduced service since Initiative 695 eliminated much of the system's revenue
Primarily to "provide a level of service" to communities it serves, state ferries "make a large number of trips during non-peak periods with vessels running relatively empty," the audit said.
The audit, using a standard of 60 percent of the vehicle and passenger space being filled on most routes, estimates that the system could save more than $9.6 million a year through a series of service hour reductions on eight ferry routes.
The audit noted a 3 percent drop in ferry ridership between 2003 and 2006, a period in which operating costs rose more than 6 percent, particularly in higher fuel prices.
Possible summer service cuts listed in the audit include one hour each weekday on the Seattle-Bremerton route, two hours a day on the Seattle-Bainbridge route and two hours on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route.
On Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months the audit suggested one-hour service cuts between Seattle and Bremerton and two hours a day from Seattle to Bainbridge and on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route.
The audit suggests that more hours could be trimmed from those three routes during the winter, after tourist season ends, and suggests other cuts on other routes.
It did not use the 60-percent-filled standard for all routes; it said ferries on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run were only used 40 percent at times on summer weekdays, but use of the Fauntleroy-Vashon part of the route by passengers and vehicles was 65 percent on weekdays.
"As such, one in eight runs or approximately four (Fauntleroy-Vashon) runs could be eliminated from the schedule for weekdays summer season," the audit said.
The state Office of Financial Management said the audit assumes, perhaps wrongly, that reducing service hours would still allow travelers to wait no longer than the next sailing to catch a ferry.
"A problem with that theory, however, is not all passengers will catch the next boat" but may simply drive around Puget Sound rather than ride a ferry across it, the office said. "This, in turn, means revenue decreases" for the ferry system.
"People generally feel Kitsap County is going to continue to grow and (ferry) ridership will continue to grow and that generally you never hear a community say, 'cut a run,' " Hammond said.
The audit estimated the rest of the annual $10 million plus savings would come through reorganizing the ferry system's work force at its Eagle Harbor maintenance facility on Bainbridge Island.
FERRY ROUTES
An audit says Washington State Ferries could save more than $10 million a year by cutting service. Among the routes suggested for cuts were:
Seattle-Bremerton -- cutting an hour each weekday during the summer.
Seattle-Bainbridge -- two hours a day during the summer.
Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth -- two hours a day during the summer.
P-I reporter Larry Lange can be reached at 206-448-8313 or larrylange@seattlepi.com.