Disappointing delay to local ferry plans

The Legislature's disappointing failure to agree on Washington State Ferries passenger-only service is expensive.

The expected decision either to stay in the passenger-only ferry business or to get out of the way is now punted to mid-2006. There's lost time for yet another study of the best, most-reliable way for passenger ferries to serve South Kitsap County — just the latest of several studies, by the way. The cost of uncertainty is paid by residents who have been waiting years for a resolution.

Oh, and add in the tens of thousands of dollars invested by private companies in market analyses and their state applications for the right to serve the area.

Most people thought the decision was made two years ago. That's when the Legislature, in a fit of financial pragmatism, ended passenger-only ferry service except, provisionally, between Seattle and Vashon Island. Lawmakers also passed a law inviting private companies to operate within the vicinity of the state ferry system — to the chagrin of the unions and their political benefactors.

Which brings us to this year, when the House Transportation Committee backed a state proposal to expand the existing Seattle-Vashon run into a triangle route, including a stop at Southworth. Chairman Ed Murray, D-Seattle, says his committee consistently has supported the state remaining in the passenger-only ferry business.

The Senate Transportation Committee, led by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, was just as adamant the state should leave passenger-only service to public-private partnerships. Kitsap Transit has stepped up to assist two private operators who recently established runs between Seattle-Kingston and Seattle-Bremerton.

The disagreement between the two chambers was among a handful of sticking points that threatened to derail the Legislature's landmark transportation budget, with its gas-tax increase.

Under pressure, Murray and Haugen kicked the decision forward. The Legislature approved a study by an 18-member task force on how best to serve South Kitsap. Lawmakers also forbade the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission from considering the two private applications at least until July a year from now.

What's another year when the state has been talking about this for more than two decades, seriously for almost 15. Money has been the major obstacle, with the repeal of the motor vehicle excise tax with Initiative 695 and voter rejection of Referendum 51, which would have restored money to the system. Even with the new gas tax, it's hard to make a case for more state subsidy when private operators could provide the service.

If anything, some legislators just don't know when to quit.

It would be one thing if, during the session, the House could have persuaded the Senate to its point of view. That didn't happen. The issue should have been dropped.

Agreeing to disagree is a disappointing and costly option when the Legislature should have just gotten out of the way.