Bremerton ferry riders fed up

The Seattle-to-Bremerton ferry route is underserved, with bad schedules and dirty boats — and the ferry system's response to damaged boats in recent weeks has only made the problems worse, some riders and advocates say.

"We are the redheaded stepchildren of the ferry system," said Ann Erickson, a Bremerton ferry rider and member of the city's ferry-advisory committee. "The ferry system has not been kind to us at all. Every little hiccup and burp, they punish Bremerton, and we're sick of it."

Meanwhile, the ferry Hyak, which just came out of dry dock and was put into Bremerton service this morning, is off the route after suffering mechanical problems, according to the ferry service. The Hyak made just one run this morning before being pulled from service.

When the Coast Guard ordered repairs to several ferries last month, officials pulled the 124-car Kitsap from the Seattle-to-Bremerton route and sent it to Southworth to compensate, replacing it with an 87-car ferry to serve Bremerton.

Then last week, the ferry Yakima ran into a breakwater in Bremerton and was pulled out of service. Passenger ferries were added, but it left the town with just one car ferry to handle all the commuters that cross Puget Sound.

The route also was one of the last of the major ones in the region to get Wi-Fi, and some regular passengers complained Tuesday that the Bremerton ferries are generally dirtier than other boats and have fewer food and drink choices.

Others say the schedule unfairly punishes those who want to attend a late-night cultural event in Seattle or a baseball game. There's a ferry that leaves Seattle at 10:30 p.m., but the next one isn't until 12:50 a.m.

Jim Brophy, a Kitsap County resident, is a season-ticket holder to the Seattle Symphony. "As soon as the final downbeat, we have to run out the door," he said. "It's a footrace. It keeps us from staying for an encore."

The ferry service acknowledges problems on the route, but says it is constrained by old boats and limited funds to operate the nation's largest ferry system.

"People are upset," said Marta Coursey, ferry spokeswoman. "Whenever we have to move vessels, Bremerton riders feel it."

She said she knows those passengers believe they are second-class citizens "and there's a heightened sense of that lately. We understand people in Bremerton regularly feel shorted, but it's a system issue. People in many routes feel thwarted."

Others say the system simply needs more money or political clout to operate.

"This issue is the state has let the system deteriorate and [they] have a crisis on their hands, and anyone in Puget Sound dependent on the ferry system will suffer for a while," said Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman. "It's deplorable they've allowed this precious system to get to this point."

Bozeman said it's up to the governor and the Legislature to make things right for ferry riders. "The ferry system is a black mark on the state," he said, adding that Bremerton needs three boats on the Seattle route, not the two it now has.

On Tuesday, dozens of passengers lined up at Colman Dock waiting to take a passenger ferry to Bremerton. Many said they were irritated at the inconvenience that seems to afflict Bremerton more than any other route.

"It's always us against Bainbridge," said Ric Logg, who lives in Bremerton and works for the U.S. Marines. "It's hard to swallow that pill."

"You can't get Red Hook or sushi on the Bremerton route," added rider Kirk Lowdon. "But it's understandable. If Washington State Ferries was paid for by passenger fares it would cost me $80 to bring my car over, so I'm not complaining."

Dianne Harlan, who lives in Port Orchard and has been riding the ferries since 1996, said Bremerton riders are treated like second-class citizens.

"Lawyers may live on Bainbridge, but their secretaries and nurses live in Bremerton," Harlan said.

She was a passenger on the Snohomish, which ran into the dock Monday night, and said she's now frightened to ride the ferries. Five people suffered minor injuries.

The Coast Guard is investigating the Snohomish and Yakima accidents.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com