WPC's Recommendations for True Ferry Reform

Washington Policy Center was asked by the Governor’s staff to give our ideas on ferry reform. There is currently no bill in Olympia but the Governor recently outlined her proposal on reforming Washington’s ferry service and creating independent ferry districts.

I appreciated staff’s openness to our recommendations and the potential of working collaboratively to create good policy and reach a more sustainable ferry program.

Our first and most important proposal in this process is that certain reforms should be implemented no matter who manages the ferry service. These include:

WPC recommendations for Ferry Reform

• Allow out-of-state design and construction of ferries.
• Utilize all financial tools available, including public/private partnerships.
• Maintain a minimum farebox recovery rate.
• Allow private operators.
• Require a competitive, open market labor.
• Allow private operators (and independent districts) to use state ferry docks on an non-interference basis.
• Require that private operators and/or their subcontract employees are not bound by WSDOT Union contract provisions.
• Allow private operators and/or their subcontract operators to run subscribed services (e.g. A boat or two in the morning to take people to work and a boat or two in the evening to take people home, with pre-sold seats)

If service is devolved to independent districts, the following recommendations apply:

• Majority of legislative body shall be directly elected. Appointed members shall represent the minority of the body.
• If the ferry district is given taxing authority, voters within the new district shall approve all tax increases. If the taxing authority remains with the legislative body, the increase can only be approved with a supermajority, or two-thirds support of the body.
• State will continue to subsidize new ferry districts, as needed.
• State subsidy to the new district shall be approved by the state legislature through the budget process.
• The state subsidy shall be tied to the direct operating and capital needs of providing ferry service. The operating subsidy shall be driven by the minimum farebox recovery rate set by the legislature. 
• The state subsidy shall be paid from current sources already allocated to the WSF (Currently 1.08 cents in gas taxes).
• The state subsidy shall be subject to the provisions of the 18th Amendment of the Washington State Constitution.
• If the state subsidy is ever reduced from the previous year, the remaining state revenue shall be placed in the Motor Vehicle Account and made available for appropriation through the legislative process.
• Allow Ferry Districts and/or their subcontract operators to run subscribed services (e.g. A boat or two in the morning to take people to work and a boat or two in the evening to take people home, with pre-sold seats)
• Require that Ferry Districts and/or their subcontract employees are not bound by WSDOT Union contract provisions.

I’m eager to see the bill and provide more information as it becomes available.