Andrew Doughman has the story in the Skagit Valley Herald:
OLYMPIA — State Sen. Kevin Ranker wants to spend $200,000 to find out why ferries run late, especially during the summer months when tourist traffic is heaviest.
Um…Whuh-huh?!? Could it have anything at all to do with the heavy tourist traffic, do ya think?
Year-round residents, including Ranker, have complained that the volume of ferry ridership during tourist season contributes to a significant decline in on-time service on the Anacortes to Friday Harbor run.
“It is appalling,” said Ranker, a San Juan Island Democrat who uses the ferries regularly. “Ferries are, a majority of the time, not on time. People have to pay more and they’re getting worse service. We’re trying to figure out what’s wrong.”
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I don’t have to read more. It doesn’t need a study. The “solution” is really quite simple ….Discontinue one run per day. That way there will be plenty of time to handle the peak loads and still remain on schedule. Oh, never mind that fewer vehicles can travel on the ferries on any given day. They will be “on time” and isn’t that worth $200,000. Our state reps and sens can be sooooo petty at times.