Editorial views from across the state

It's time to end the outrage of underfunding and mismanagement at Washington State Ferries and the financial abuse of its riders.

For years, ferry service to and from Kitsap County was safe, reliable and predictable. Schedule changes were inconsequential, and riders barely needed a printed schedule — boats left from Bremerton on the hour. Fares were affordable and increases were rare. When prices went up in 1992, it was the first fare hike in five years.

Generally, Kitsap residents probably were more concerned about the weather than the ferries.

Now, fares are higher than ever and things have never been worse. Fares have skyrocketed 70 percent in seven years. Maintenance has suffered, four unsafe old boats were abruptly removed last year, service is unreliable and the capital budget to build new ferries is a sham based on unrealistic revenue projections.

Management changes have been frequent, costly errors have been made and the ferry system and its riders have paid the price for a lack of consistent and capable leadership.

Voters made a bad call in 1999 when they approved Initiative 695, a simplistic and shortsighted measure. The initiative eliminated the oppressive Motor Vehicle Excise Tax — the highest in the nation — but also gutted funding for highways and ferries. If legislators had agreed to lower the tax years earlier, I-695 never would have happened.

Although I-695 was invalidated in court, lawmakers passed legislation in 2000 that eliminated the MVET — without providing compensatory funding for ferries.

Since then, highway funding has more than recovered from the MVET loss through fuel tax increases, but the percentage of transportation tax revenues going to ferries has declined.

As one editorial board member said, it's like neglecting Seattle's Highway 520 bridge until the pontoons start leaking and the anchors give way, and sporadically opening or closing it to traffic — without advance notice.

For seven years, riders have been carrying the financial burden of the Legislature's failure to fund the state's marine highway system.

Our state ferries are no longer reliable or affordable. Based on incidents of recent weeks, they cannot be considered consistently safe.

Gov. Christine Gregoire and legislators say they're serious about overhauling Washington State Ferries, establishing reasonable fares and state funding, and requiring accountability from ferries officials and the Department of Transportation.

That would be a good start. It's long overdue.

— Kitsap Sun, Feb. 17