Saturday, November 1, 2 – 6 p.m., Orcas Island Library
— from Broch Bender, WSF —
I am writing to let you know about a series of upcoming Washington State Ferries community events in the San Juans. The events are geared toward informing locals about our upcoming San Juan Islands vehicle reservation service. Customer service representative will be available set up vehicle reservation accounts and answer questions about the service.
This weekend
The WSF outreach team will be on San Juan Island (Saturday, Oct. 11; 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the San Juan Island Library), and the Shaw Island Community Center (Sunday, Oct. 12; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.).
Upcoming events
- Saturday, Oct. 18 – WSF will be at the Lopez Island Library from 12:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 1 – WSF will be at the Orcas Island Library from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.
For more information, please refer to the attached outreach schedule, or contact me directly at Benderb@wsdot.wa.gov or (206) 515-3913.
The WSF website has recently updated information about reservations. A direct link is wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/takeaferry. By clicking on each underlined document, you can get the whole plan, and find answers to many of your questions. You can also e-mail them: sharris@wsdot.wa.gov, or call 1-888-808-7977
The WSF has had the support of a number of people from each island who can help explain the reservation system. They are locals who have been attending the Reservation Partnership Group meetings for the past 2 years as the plans have been unfolding. I, one of those participants, would be happy to speak to any Orcas groups, or take any individual e-mails with your questions or concerns. mshaworcas@yahoo.com.
There are many misconceptions out there; it is wise to learn the facts.
Broch Bender, WSF:
There must be an opportunity for the Orcas community to share with you, or another WSF representative, as to why the reservation plan will not work for us on Orcas.
I suspect that the purpose of the scheduled meetings will only be to tell us how to navigate the reservation system.
However, reservations will not work for Orcas.
My first point (of many) would be that there are insufficient spots on the ferries for Orcas currently. We have suffered horrendous overloads this summer, and now overloads have continued into October with the new schedule. There is no way a reservation system will alleviate this condition; it will only make it worse. This is not just a Friday problem. Overloads happen regularly thorough out the week days as well.
As I write this at 6:00 PM on Friday evening, October 10, the 6:30 ferry to Orcas is now full and has been for some time. Enough time that the next Orcas ferry at 8:55 has less than 38 spaces remaining.
It is interesting to note that the next Lopez/Friday Harbor ferry at 8:25 still has 136 spaces remaining. I do not wish to rob Peter to pay Paul, the system is broken now, and reservations will not change that; only make it more difficult.
Please get information/input directly from Orcas residents as to why this reservation system is a bad idea and how it will not work for us.
I am sending this email to you, and add it as an “open letter” to the comment section of our local e-newspaper regarding the scheduled ferry meetings.
Thank you,
Rick Markov
[As I finish this email to you, there are only 27 spaces remaining for the 8:55 Orcas; Lopez/Friday Harbor have 130 spaces remaining for a ferry that leaves a half hour before ours.]
Rick, your points are well taken. A writer from San Juan said she has never waited more than an hour for any ferry. We on Orcas know differently. Your observations may help to shuffle the sailings to better accommodate the need. However, this weekend, and others recently have shown that, when there are attractive “festivals” being promoted, we will experience the rush to the islands.
The reservations system WILL alleviate this overload backup to a great degree. Reservations will have been made well before arriving at the terminal, and those who have found that their desired sailing was full will choose another. WSF will also put another ferry in service if it looks like they won’t be able to transport all riders in a particular day. With reservations, they’ll be able to monitor this situation more easily. Note that Fridays provides a late ferry just for that eventuality.
It’s my understanding that the underlying reason for a reservation system is our reluctance as a (state wide) community to tax ourselves sufficiently so that larger terminals could be built and new ferries constructed. A reservation system is the second choice because we are unwilling to tax ourselves more.
If I am incorrect, I would like to know that.
David Kobrin
Eastsound