Budget blues: State ferry routes cut, less space for cars

Last updated December 15, 2010 10:09 p.m. PT

Ferry riders will see reduced service because of state budget cuts proposed Wednesday by Gov. Chris Gregoire. Like most government departments, the ferry service budget is under pressure. State officials say Washington State Ferries has a $180 million deficit in its operating budget over the next 10 years and an $865 million shortfall in its capital program. The ferry budget lost 20 percent of its operating funding when voters approved an initiative cutting car license fees in 1999. "Since then, the deficit has been subsidized with short-term transfers from non-ferry transportation sources. This approach is not sustainable," Gregoire's budget 2011-13 budget summary said. The proposed budget would:

• Reduce average daily sailings from 505 to 477 during the next two-year budget period.
• Eliminate one weekday, mid-day round trip between Seattle and Bremerton and cut night service after the 9:05 pm. sailing and reduce capacity by 20 cars on one vessel.
• Reduce 40 weeks of service between Anacortes and Sidney to 22 weeks.
• Reduce service hours on the San Juan Island/Anacortes route for 18 weeks in the fall and spring and reduce capacity by 20 car spaces on one boat during the summer.
• Reduce San Juan inter-island service hours in the spring and fall and reduce capacity by 23 car spaces per sailing.
• Reduce capacity on one Fountleroy/Vashon/Southworth vessel by 37 car spaces.
• Not restore a second vessel on the Coupeville/Port Townsend route.
• Eliminate the last round-trip night service between Mukilteo/Clinton.
• Eliminate one early afternoon and one late evening round trip between Point Defiance and Tahlequah.

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