— from Heidi Lindberg —
I’d like to point out what appears to be unconscionable folly in the proposed reservation system for the Washington State Ferries San Juan Islands’ ferry routes.
The thinking seems to be that reservations work on other ferry routes so it will be a great addition to the SJ routes and appears to be a done deal at this point. It looks on the surface to be a great idea–no more waiting in long lines and there will be increased traffic which will bring in more desperately-needed revenue.
The implication is that with a reservation everyone is assured a place in line. (Not mentioned is the fact that there are already four-hour waits between ferries, even during the heaviest traffic times, and the ferries can carry only so many cars with or without reservations.)
However, with the cutbacks to the ferries, where the money is going to come from to get the reservation system in place? Will it be taken from areas that are needed to keep the ferries operating satisfactorily? The necessary extra help at the landings won’t be there.
I don’t think people are realizing how difficult this system will be for the attendants which will then affect everyone trying to get onto the ferry when they think it will be so easy with “no waiting!” It will be horrendous and the ones who will take all the grief will be the attendants, not the ones who dreamed this up.
I’ve become aware of almost 40 potential glitches that will cause havoc and hardship for most everyone affected by this plan if it’s implemented. A petition has been started from Friday Harbor which is gathering speed, but more exposure is needed. The San Juan Islanders are small potatoes in the eyes of the state ferry officials and they haven’t made provisions for the 40 concerns I’ve alluded to.
The best thing would be for the islanders to have reservations on every ferry before anyone!! We want to get home and use our “roads” just like the mainlanders have access to their roads to get to their homes.
Life has an infinite number of potential glitches. I am not sure how not having to wait for many hours in line for a ferry is a step in the wrong direction. I can’t wait to have reservations.
Heidi,
Would you enumerate the “40 potential glitches that will cause havoc”. Personally, I am looking forward to the reservation system, and think that it will, as we get used to it, allow for planned rather than random chance boarding of the ferry. That said, I would deb interested in understanding the 40 specific things that you see as causing havoc.
Thanks!
What if you wake up one day, and decide to go off island~either for need, or want.
Well, sounds like with the “convenience” of the Ferry Reservation System, you can’t…we’ve all lost our freedom! Heidi, please let me know any way I can support the Petition, and or assist in “spreading the word”.
My wife and I went to Anacortes for doctor’s appointments last Friday and ended up being away from home for twelve hours because we missed the 3:40 pm ferry by four slots…..and we were there an hour and a half early! I would have really loved to have a reservation on that sailing.
Reading this and the other thread on this subject its pretty clear there is a lot of misinformation and no information out there.
Many of the fears seem unfounded to me and, surprise, I found most of them dealt with on the ferry system’s own website in a detailed series of Frequently Asked Questions:
https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/TakeaFerry/
Check it out. It will do wonders for your blood pressure.
Carl,
My last off island doctors appointment took 45 mins longer than expected. If I had a reservation, and had planned on being there 1 hour early, my reservation would have been invalidated and I would have been left to wait for an available opening later in the day- if one ever came available.
I have read every word on the Ferry Systems web site regarding reservations and what I have discovered is that there’s more questions not answered than answered.
Unfortunatly it is all raising my blood pressure to a point that I may now need another trip off-island to the Dr… I hope my appointment doesn’t run long!
I particularly love this piece from the Q&A sheet.
“34. I’m concerned that existing lines at the tollbooth are too long. What if I can’t get through the line in 30 minutes?
A key issue today is that on our highly desired sailings we have more customers showing up at our terminals than we have available space for the upcoming sailing. This causes the congestion and long lines at our terminals and in our communities. Reservations will eliminate this congestion and significantly reduce the line.”
The sheet readily aknowledges that there is more traffic expected over time and that there is not enough space on the boats. Reservations will require more segregation of the traffic by the toll booth operators and more time dedicated to managing and tracking the checking in and out of reservations.
For those who question the effect on businesses, here’s real world example #1:
I have 7 different truck that my business could send off island for supplies. All have different size characteristics. With the reservation system, I will be forced to reserve the largest space possible (over height and one over length) for every proposed trip. If, I simply reserve a regular space, but then because of weather on any particular day I need to take my enclosed truck instead, the reservation system will not allow me to switch from regular to over height. If, for some reason I do need to change to a bigger reservation, too bad- that’s prohibited. I’m only allowed in stand by. Since I would not pay an employee to sit in a line for a spot that may never come available, I would just cancel that trip. I end up without my needed goods my employee ends up with no work that day/no pay and for any days lost because we don’t have the goods to work with.
I think the number 40 used above is easily quantifiable.
Justin,
We all understand the problems that get us to the terminal too late but, frankly, I don’t know how it will be any different with a reservation system: We’ll still have to wait.
The good news would appear to be that we can rebook a reserved spot on a subsequent trip and know exactly when we will be going home.
Looks like that can be done online on by phone, according to the brochure they were handing out at the terminal last week.
Anyone who has traveled a lot by plane knows how that works and how to avoid standing around in line with too many other people: If you’re late get on your cell phone the minute your plane touches down!!
Justin,
You’re right about access to the terminal in Anacortes. The city streets (12th and Oakes Ave.) are a real problem and I’m not sure how they’re going to or can deal with that.
As far as all the other potential issues it strikes me that the answer is we’re no worse off than we are without a reservation system so the question becomes: Will the system provide enough efficiency to make dealing with the unexpected easier?
Carl,
Here’s the difference:
If I have a reservation for the 3:50 and miss it, I am put in standby behind everyone who is waiting in standby for the 20 total remaining spots that are left for that day for drive-ups. (Keep in mind that in the summer, every boat will likely be reserved out to its fullest capacity 2 days in advance, so you can’t just “rebook… On a subsequent trip”.) There is a very good potential that even though I had a reservation and ran late at my appointment that I may not be able to get a spot on a boat that day. Sadly under the new system, there is no way for me to know if I will be in stand by for 1 hour or for 12 hours or if I will simply be unable to get on a boat.
Under the current system I would be in stand-by for the remaining 220 spots remaining that day and would know exactly where in that pack of 220 I fall.
I have no fundamental objection to waiting for a boat and realizing that I may need to invest an extra hour or even two in waiting if I want to guarantee my spot on the boat by arriving early.
Ultimately, WSF will put this system in place and they will either be proven wrong or right – unfortunately it is the citizens of San Juan county who get to play the role of Guinea Pig for an untested and unproven system.