Ferries to Continue at Current Levels of Service

Ranker, Nelson secure last minute save to ferry service cuts

From the State Democrats Office

Today, April 20,  the Senate passed House Bill 1175, the state’s two-year transportation budget. Until this afternoon, the proposed plan included over $4 million in cuts to ferry services. Thanks to actions led by Senators Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, Sharon Nelson, D-Maury Island, Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, and Curtis King, R-Yakima, service levels for Washington state ferry routes will stay intact, without reduction.

Throughout the session, Ranker, Nelson and others have worked feverishly on amendments to the budget to restore the initial proposed cuts to service. In a last minute turn of events, a floor amendment to the transportation budget amended the document to restore service funding.

“I know well the effect service reductions would have had upon our island communities,” said Ranker. “People in my district depend on reliable service to get to school and work just as much as other districts depend upon roads to do the same. This bill maintains their ability to get there.”

“With this bill, we have begun to halt the decade long erosion of service,” said Ranker. “I’d like to offer my gratitude Senator Haugen and Senator King for their leadership on this issue.”

Nelson reinforced the importance of maintaining current levels of service. “I’m extremely pleased we were able to avoid cuts to services in this budget,” said Nelson.  “Reducing ferry runs would have been a major blow to our island and maritime communities, where reliable ferries are a daily necessity and a key economic driver.”

“Maintaining the current levels of service provides certainty to business, families and our emergency services,” Nelson added.  “Additionally, as the Washington State Ferries are the largest tourist attraction in our state and maintaining service helps our economy.”

Washington has the largest ferry service in the country, with more than 22 million riders annually, transporting more people than Seatac Airport.  Ferries are also the state’s single largest tourist attraction, bringing in over $15 billion in tourism dollars in 2010.

The 2011-2013 transportation budget includes $5.9 billion in proposed capital spending, supporting approximately 29,500 jobs each year of the coming biennium. Specifically, the 40^th legislative district will see $37.7 million worth of investments in the coming biennium.