||| FROM ERIC GOURLEY |||
My daughter-in-law had a reservation for the 10:40 a.m. ferry to Orcas this morning. After driving for three hours from South Seattle to make the 30 minute window, which she did, she was in line only to be pre-empted by three large tour buses “requiring” space on the ferry.
I ask what good it is to play by the rules, labor through the reservation website, and arrive in time for the ferry when it ends up in being ejected from the line by empty tour buses.
I cannot think of a single word I can come up with in favor of our ferry system. It is unreliable, late most of the time, subject to total cancellations for the entire day, and breaks its own rules and guidelines.
As a resident for 23 years I would like to say ferry service has improved. Sadly, that is not the case. It has only deteriorated. I hope other riders will share their stories. We are trapped by the ferry system. Without any other alternative we are at its mercy and our pleas for better service go unheeded. What is one to do?
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How about carefully considering who.has been in charge of this degradation.
Then vote for someone else.
What is one to do? Hop in that sweet airplane and get her. Have her just park at the airport. Yay!
I feel your frustration. What is one to do? Certainly does no good to have (yet another) community bitchfest in the Orcasonian. Instead write (individually and collectively) to:
Our Ferry Advisory Committee, c/o Chair, Ken Burtness, kenburtness@centurytel.net
or committee member Justin Paulsen on Orcas, justin@tfnwllc.com
The WSF “customer service” contact page: https://wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/infodesk/customerfeedback (very limited space for feedback). They don’t make it easy to find a direct, responsible contact, but one I’ve found is: Rachel Dean, Legislative Analyst (probably not high in the administration, but.. deanr@wsdot.wa.gov )
Washington State Transportation Commission https://wstc.wa.gov/commission-feedback/
Debbie Young is the Chair and San Juan Islands Commissioner (email not provided).
Finally, be sure to cc our County Council members and state legislators (addresses provided in every issue of the Orcasonian). Make your voices heard.
Brain and Eric-
Not that we will fix the system, but the San Juan County Ferry Advisory Committee is hosting a community input forum this coming Wednesday 8/2 at 6:30 pm. The focus of this is to take in community input so that we can make sure that we are dedicating our energy to advocating best for the community.
This is not an agenda driven meeting. It’s a chance for us to listen.
Link is here:
https://sanjuancowa.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2408/files
Just wait for the 12:25.