On Ferries, We’ve Had this Conversation Before

When did all this happen?

They traveled from eight counties but carried one message: “Save our ferries.”

Several legislators from ferry-using districts told the crowd that they won’t vote for a transportation budget that doesn’t take care of the ferries. It’s the other legislators who need to be convinced.

“If you want our vote, keep the boats afloat,” the group chanted.

The ferries are part of the state highway system, a governor’s representative said, but they’re also more than that. “A ferry with Mount Rainier in the background is the icon of this great state of Washington,” he said.

State ferries are part of the highway system, according to the 18th amendment of the state constitution, but the state isn’t carving a chunk out of existing state roads like it plans to do to the ferries, supporters claim.

“Keep the promise,” rose a chant that became a rally theme.

A 26th District state senator led the event’s most resounding chant: “It’s our road, it’s our road, it’s our road.”

“We’re not going to solve transportation problems on the back of ferry users,” said Mary Margaret Haugen, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee. “”I don’t believe you should pay twice as much and be cut also. A lot of people think ferries are a luxury. We know they’re not.””

“Give us what’s right and not just what’s left,” said a 26th District state rep.

Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido handed petitions with 6,000 to 7,000 signatures to House Co-speaker Frank Chopp.

“I’ve got one basic message,” said Chopp, who was born and raised in Bremerton. “I love the ferries. If we let them go away, it’s shame on all of us.”

The answer is that this happened nine years to the day before an event planned for Wednesday, again in Olympia. Ferry supporters will gather in at the capitol Wednesday to rally for ferries. The state senator mentioned above was Bob Oke, now deceased. The state representative was Pat Lantz, now retired.

Parts of this story are being passed among ferry supporters to emphasize how the same message being delivered in 2009 was the one being chanted in 2000, yet ferries are still threatened to some degree. Back the ferry shortfall was the result of the car tab measure voters, then the Legislature, approved, taking away much of the funding for the ferry system. That’s still an issue, because the Legislature has largely decided to let riders make up much of the funding shortfall. That reached its maximum acceptance by riders, who are now asking the state to lay off a bit. The state’s response is to either keep service the same or reduce it.

Here are some differences from 2000, though. At the time the conversation was happening at a time when the economy was, we all believed, rocking. The dot-com bubble hadn’t quite burst yet, so things were hopping when the Legislature was in session. This time, of course, the economy is generally being painted as ugly.

I don’t see any evidence that Chopp is as passionate now about ferries as he was then. Haugen is not out in front either. With budget forecasts expected to be “horrific,” it’s hard to get as many people fired up to “save our highways.”

This time around, ferry supporters think they have a better strategy than they did nine years ago. Debbi Lester, a Bainbridge Islander who is part of the Plan C group and the Ferry Community Partnership, sent the dated story with the following message.

Let’s make the unexpected happen, let’s actually be capable of learning something from our history repeating itself, and let’s make action happen in Olympia!

We’ve waited 9 long years for Olympia to find solutions. What we’ve learned is to come with solutions in hand, on Wednesday, February 18, 11:30 am on the north steps of the Capital, we will be introducing our long range plan for Washington State Ferries – Plan C – The Citizens’ Plan.

It’s our turn to take the rudder, right this ship and set a true course for Washington State Ferries.

Ed Friedrich’s full story follows the jump.

FERRY RALLY: ‘Keep the boats afloat’

By Ed Friedrich, Sun Staff

Ferries are part of the state highway system, and no asphalt is being dug up, say supporters.

“There aren’t a lot of people in Olympia who care about ferries,” Secretary of State Ralph Munro told 300 chanting ferry users and employees who gathered at the Capitol steps in Olympia for a rally Thursday.

They traveled from eight counties but carried one message: “Save our ferries.”

The chant rang repeatedly through campus. But did it penetrate legislators’ marble walls? Those are the Olympians about whom Munro spoke.

The Bainbridge Island resident challenged supporters not to go home believing that their work was finished. He said lawmakers who attended the rally already care.

Several legislators from ferry-using districts told the crowd that they won’t vote for a transportation budget that doesn’t take care of the ferries. It’s the other legislators who need to be convinced.

Otherwise, the state will cut service on July 1 to make ends meet until the following summer. After that, it would need to nearly double fares just to keep the system operating at a reduced level.

Transportation Secretary Sid Morrison stood in for Gov. Gary Locke, who canceled an hour before the rally.

The cancellation was greeted sourly. “If you want our vote, keep the boats afloat,” the group chanted.

Morrison said the state had arranged for $2.4 billion to be used for transportation projects. Initiative 695, which repealed the state motor vehicle excise tax, killed the funding. The Department of Transportation was then obligated to provide a bare-bones budget to the Legislature.

“Of course, that’s what brings you all here today, because we said two things you don’t like – higher fares and reduction in service,” he said.

The ferries are part of the state highway system, Morrison said, but they’re also more than that.

“A ferry with Mount Rainier in the background is the icon of this great state of Washington,” he said.

State ferries are part of the highway system, according to the 18th amendment of the state constitution, but the state isn’t carving a chunk out of existing state roads like it plans to do to the ferries, supporters claim.

“Keep the promise,” rose a chant that became a rally theme.

“The Legislature wants to build a lot of new pavement,” said Sen. Mike Heavey, D-West Seattle. “Not one new inch of asphalt until our (marine) highways are restored.”

Sen. Bob Oke, R-Port Orchard, led the event’s most resounding chant: “It’s our road, it’s our road, it’s our road.”

“We’re not going to solve transportation problems on the back of ferry users,” said Mary Margaret Haugen, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee. “I don’t believe you should pay twice as much and be cut also. A lot of people think ferries are a luxury. We know they’re not.”

“Give us what’s right and not just what’s left,” said Rep. Pat Lantz, D-Gig Harbor.

Several Kitsap County citizens spoke. Among them was ferry commuter Logan Jaeren of Olalla, who toted his daughter Lily and a sign on his shoulders. The sign spoke as loud as his words: “I Can’t Walk On H2O.”

Kingston Lumber owner Tom Waggoner questioned how this could be happening when the state is enjoying its best economic time ever.

“It’s ridiculous that we’re here,” he said.

Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido handed petitions with 6,000 to 7,000 signatures to House Co-speaker Frank Chopp.

“I’ve got one basic message,”” said Chopp, who was born and raised in Bremerton. “”I love the ferries. If we let them go away, it’s shame on all of us.”