State not interested in acquiring ferry; fare hike likely

Washington State Department of Transportation officials know a good thing when they see it: When Wahkiakum County officials broached the idea of the state taking over the operation of the ferry "Wahkiakum," they said no thanks, the county is doing a fine job.

That was the report of county Public Works Director Pete Ringen, who had discussed the idea with WSDOT District Administrator Don Wagner and state Highway and Local Program Manager Cathleen Davis.

"They said the county can run it more efficiently than the state, so the partnership should continue," Ringen said Tuesday.

The state pays 80 percent of the cost of running the ferry, up to an amount set by the legislature. This past year, the county was left with a $77,000 bill after expenses pushed the cost of ferry operation above the state's apportionment.

Ringen said Davis and Wagner said they and the county could approach legislators to have a special appropriation to cover the deficit. Commissioners said Tuesday they would begin talks with legislators and the governor's office about the special appropriation.

Ringen also reported that ferry rates haven't been raised since 1998.

The county boosted the fare for a car or pickup and its driver from $2 to $3.

The cost of a commuter ticket book went from $65 to $75 for 40 rides.

Ringen said he would prepare a spreadsheet to show the effects of a variety of possible rate increases.

Ringen and the commissioners also discussed the possibility of cutting two trips from the ferry's schedule.

The ferry makes 18 trips in an 18-hour day, Ringen said. Two shifts of two-person crews work nine hour shifts, with one hour paid as overtime.

"We'd like them to work eight hour shifts," Marsyla said, "so we could cut out that extra overtime."

The ferry carries 26 commuters who work at the Wauna paper mill. Ringen contacted the mill and was told shifts end at 6:30 p.m., so workers should be able to make a 7:15 departure, unless they are called for overtime at the mill.

Thus, officials thought it might be possible to cut the last two runs of the day, leaving Westport at 9:15 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., and not impact the mill workers.

Ringen said he would include trends in passenger counts in his analysis.