The Ferries for Crying Out Loud!
The Washington State Ferry system is incredibly underfunded. As the debate rages over how we are going to pay for a new $4.5 billion 520 floating bridge we are having a hard time finding funding for our state ferries. $4.5 billion could put a new boat on every run and operate the system for decades. Yet, our boats’ maintenance is lacking. When was the last time a rust prone ferry was even repainted? Ferries in Washington provide 80 years of service. The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge isn’t even 50 years old and we need to replace it.
The Washington State ferry is king!
Our priorities are screwed up, not that we don’t need a new 520 bridge, but that we pay $15 per vehicle and $7 per passenger and yet people on the Eastside are complaining about tolls of $1-$5 per vehicle. The ferries move the same number of passengers as a new 520 bridge would, and do so while saving fuel (compared to the 70 thousand vehicles a day that would have to theoretically drive that same distance that is currently covered by the ferries). The Ferries are uniquely identified with our state and are a large tourist draw. We need to treat our ferries better and make them more affordable for everyone.
Just think what those on the Eastside would be saying if they had to pay $30 per vehicle each way to cover the construction costs on both I-90 and 520!
