Save our Washington State Ferry System
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
Governor Chris Gregoire and the WA State Legislature
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Sponsored By:
Ferry Community Partnership & Citizens Plan C -
More Info at:
We, the undersigned, Washington State wish to express our extreme dissatisfaction with the actions currently being considered by the Executive Branch and the Washington State Ferry System (WSF) to resolve the challenges faced by that system.
Over the past several years marginal management, unsustainable labor agreements, questionable cost structures, patchwork funding, a dearth of reliable information, and a lack of serious commitment by the Executive Branch and Legislature have contributed to reducing the ferry system from one of the iconic marine transportation systems in the United States, if not the world, into a system being cobbled together to keep it barely functional. This is totally unacceptable!
It is time for the Executive Branch and the Legislature to face this issue head-on and restore the system to effectively meet the needs of its customers and Washington State. To this end, we the undersigned petition the Governor and the Legislature to act during the 2009 Legislative Session to:
Recognize the value of the system to the economy of Washington State, the communities being served and their residents.
Dispense with further cuts in service and take actions to restore the system so it can efficiently meet the needs of its customers.
Reaffirm that the WSF is part of Washington's highway system, that it is as important as all other major highways across the state and recognize the fiscal, legal and other obligations to the taxpayers and customers associated with that relationship.
Revise the "Made in Washington" requirement to allow WSF and Washington State to qualify for federal funding for the construction of ferries.
Provide a permanent source of equitable statewide funding to ensure the system, its beneficiaries and its customers will not continue to suffer because of lack of legislative and executive branch action.
Develop a sustainable, long term budget for the ferry system based on equitable statewide funding that caps fares at reasonable rates for ferry customers and which considers the economic and social impacts on relationships between businesses, management, labor, government agencies and ferry customers.
Over the past several years marginal management, unsustainable labor agreements, questionable cost structures, patchwork funding, a dearth of reliable information, and a lack of serious commitment by the Executive Branch and Legislature have contributed to reducing the ferry system from one of the iconic marine transportation systems in the United States, if not the world, into a system being cobbled together to keep it barely functional. This is totally unacceptable!
It is time for the Executive Branch and the Legislature to face this issue head-on and restore the system to effectively meet the needs of its customers and Washington State. To this end, we the undersigned petition the Governor and the Legislature to act during the 2009 Legislative Session to:
Recognize the value of the system to the economy of Washington State, the communities being served and their residents.
Dispense with further cuts in service and take actions to restore the system so it can efficiently meet the needs of its customers.
Reaffirm that the WSF is part of Washington's highway system, that it is as important as all other major highways across the state and recognize the fiscal, legal and other obligations to the taxpayers and customers associated with that relationship.
Revise the "Made in Washington" requirement to allow WSF and Washington State to qualify for federal funding for the construction of ferries.
Provide a permanent source of equitable statewide funding to ensure the system, its beneficiaries and its customers will not continue to suffer because of lack of legislative and executive branch action.
Develop a sustainable, long term budget for the ferry system based on equitable statewide funding that caps fares at reasonable rates for ferry customers and which considers the economic and social impacts on relationships between businesses, management, labor, government agencies and ferry customers.
3449 Signatures
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Patrick L. C
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Holly W
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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robert r
- Washington County Residence
- kitsap
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Melissa D
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Jack G
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william j. k
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Mary S
- Washington County Residence
- Island
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Lillie P
- Washington County Residence
- King
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Vicki R
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Erin C
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
- Comments
- I and my family depend on my livlihood, which is in Seattle where we cannot afford to live, but must go to work because there are not enough opportunites in the peninsula. Reductions in ferry service will critically impact myself and thousands of others.
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Gloria M
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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James B
- Washington County Residence
- King
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Linda D
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Marika S
- Washington County Residence
- King
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Anna M
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Robert C
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Jesse P
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
- Comments
- Please don't make our lives harder by removing ferry routes or cutting routes that transport automobiles!
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daryn s
- Washington County Residence
- yes
- Comments
- we are a ferry dependent community
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Lane D
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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leanne f
- Washington County Residence
- island
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Ralph A. Nelson, M
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Rebecca R
- Comments
- Our ferries are a treasure! They keep us employed, keep our property values strong, attract tourists, and we urge you to investment in, enrich and not abandon, this picturesque and charming mode of transportation unique to the beautiful Pacific Northwest!
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Brad W
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Michael M
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
- Comments
- We love these boats!
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Hannah J
- Washington County Residence
- Pierce
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Che' G
- Washington County Residence
- Coupeville, Island Cty.
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Karen C
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Jennifer B
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Mark B
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Kim H
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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nelson m
- Washington County Residence
- kitsap
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Daryl D
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
- Comments
- I am a ferry commuter.
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JoJo G
- Washington County Residence
- King
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Robin A
- Washington County Residence
- Island
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Judith A
- Washington County Residence
- Island
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Sharen H
- Washington County Residence
- ISLAND COUNTY
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Kathleen W
- Washington County Residence
- King
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Vickie M
- Washington County Residence
- King
- Comments
- King County can't haul the garbage on passenger only ferries. Please study what percentage of travel is for business and essential services and really find out why Vashon needs car ferries just to function as a community.
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Ann E
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
- Comments
- Our water highways are the connection to medical care, cultural activities, education and JOBS. We cannot afford to lose any service and we absulutely need to have more service. Ditch the tunnel and use the money saved for the Ferry System!!
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Barbara S
- Comments
- ferries are substitute highways and should be treated as such
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Cindee B
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Cindee B
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Joy P
- Washington County Residence
- Skagit
- Comments
- Raise rates if necessary, do not cut service!
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Jane B
- Washington County Residence
- Southworth, WA
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Mary E. K
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Anne E N
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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robin w
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
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Steven M
- Washington County Residence
- Yep
- Comments
- Ferries are a responsibility of the Washington Dept. of Transportation
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Michael C
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
- Comments
- There are only 2 reasonable ways to get to Seattle from the penninsula, Ferry and Bridge, and the are both taxed more than any other roadway in WA state. Maybe we should make cars/trucks pay $12 each way to drive over Snoqualmie Pass! That would only be fair, and 520 and I-90.
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Susan C
- Washington County Residence
- Kitsap
- Comments
- В
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3449
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