Editorial: Getting around, on wheels or water, not any easier

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

During a 60-day legislative session in 2022, Washington state lawmakers adopted a landmark 16-year transportation package that outlined nearly $17 billion in spending on road projects, bridge maintenance, transit expansion, fish culvert replacement, state ferry funding and more.

Work to implement that plan — Move Ahead Washington — continues, but two years later, the path to what was promised looks longer and more expensive.

Construction costs have increased for road and bridge construction and replacement of culverts to satisfy a federal court mandate to restore fish passage; the state has had to expand its search for shipbuilders to add new ferries and convert older ones to hybrid-electric to its aging fleet; and the state ferry system, itself, is short on labor.

Standing at the dock: The state ferry system offers a case study of the complications frustrating those using the range of the states’ transportation modes.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-getting-around-on-wheels-or-water-not-any-easier/

[SarahD]

1. "Easy" is not the problem.

Money is the problem. People expect good ferry service but are not willing to pay for it. Those of us who live here know how important ferry service is. Some of us appreciate living in this sort of maritime paradise and we're willing to pay for it. Too many of our neighbors are just selfish. They expect cheap ferries that run on schedule and low taxes.

[RainCaster]

2. People who don't take the ferries don't want to pay for it

They do not understand that these are part of the state highway system. They have no clue how old these boats are, or how much it costs to keep them operating. Those costs go up exponentially as the boats age.

Many who know the details of all this are the aging mechanics on the vessels. They are retiring faster than new ones can be trained. That makes the problems even bigger.