Comment: Work under way to rebuild reliable ferry system

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By Marko Liias / For The Herald

Like so many others who grew up here, I have vivid childhood memories of our iconic ferries. My family couldn’t afford expensive vacations, so we found joy in exploring destinations close to home.

The familiar white and green ferry fleet symbolizes the connections that tie our state together across the Salish Sea. But we also have to be honest with ourselves: Washington’s ferries are in trouble. Aging vessels and staffing shortages have forced Washington State Ferries to reduce service along many routes, with severe consequences for those who rely on them.

When I took over as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee in 2022, I knew that we had to get serious about fixing our ferries. And we got to work, passing a package of transportation investments called Move Ahead Washington. This package includes funding to acquire five new ferries, investments in better pay for ferry workers, and new workforce pathways to make sure we recruit new workers and help them skill up from entry level to the captain’s chair.

We also made sure that kids ride free on ferries, so the next generation of families can create memories and explore our state; just like my family did. And with the cost of living going up, cutting fares for kids means a little more money for families to spend on other needs.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-work-under-way-to-rebuild-reliable-ferry-system/

[SarahD]

1. Ferry career should be attractive.

Ferry jobs used to be considered as a possible career. Start as a deck hand and work toward a job like pilot or engineer. I knew people in Port Townsend who worked on the ferry and liked it because the pay wasn't bad and they could advance. The downside was the schedule, which required working weekends, holidays, night shift, etc. Not sure what happened but ferry jobs are not sought after anymore.