Current Folder: INBOX Sign Out Compose Addresses Folders Options Search Help SquirrelMail Message List | Delete Previous | Next Forward | Forward as Attachment | Reply | Reply All Subject: Ferry comments From: "Vickie/Eric" Date: Fri, December 28, 2007 2:06 pm To: info@seattle2pt.com Priority: Normal Options: View Full Header | View Printable Version | Download this as a file To Whom it may concern, After riding the Port Townsend -Seattle ferry, I believe that it can be a great service to the entire north Olympic Peninsula, not just Port Townsend. It would offer another way into Seattle for residents of Sequim, Port Angeles, Forks, and everywhere in between. Of course it is not economically viable if you offer 4 round trips daily, at a fare of only $6.70, and limit the 350 capacity ferry to only 150. (Both trips on my ferry rides turned people away). However, if you run only 2 round trips a day, and charge about $20.00 per round trip, you might break even. The $8000.00 daily fuel cost would drop in half, and the $5800.00 daily other costs, such as employees and maintenance would be reduced also. Many riders I encountered commented on how cheap the fare was for the service provided and that they would gladly pay more. Start by limiting the service to Friday-Sunday, and keep the fair a little lower at $15.00 per round trip. Promote the service widely, and if ridership justifies, then increase the price a little and add another run or more days if needed. Increased runs or fares could be put in place for the summer tourist season. But even a twice daily weekend service would be great. It would help tourist oriented businesses in both Port Townsend and downtown Seattle, and the economic benefit to the merchants in those areas could provide an additional source of revenue to make up any ferry operating shortfalls. I know my wife and I spent about $75.00 during our afternoon in Pioneer Square, and we could have easily spent 2-3 times as much. Our alternatives would be to drive to the Bainbridge Island terminal and take the ferry from there, but that would have entailed an additional 45 minutes of driving time each way, the additional gas expense and mileage on the vehicle, adding congestion to already busy roads, not to mention more expensive parking at Bainbridge. Possibly a reasonable parking fee in Port Townsend could be charged for Seattle ferry riders as an additional revenue source. I am sure there are lots of other ideas, but the current system amounts to a set-up for failure. Though it may not have been intended as a trial run for the viability of this ferry, in fact it is. Why not do it in a way that it could succeed, rather than dooming it to failure from the start. If the state of Washington is committed to reducing our carbon footprint, reducing traffic congestion, and fostering tourism and our local economies by reducing the physical isolation caused by our geography, this foot ferry service can be a great example. Eric Neurath 631 Georgiana St. Port Angeles, WA 98362