Re: “Use passenger boats to ease WA ferry disaster” [Dec. 18, Editorials]:
Ferry-dependent islanders agree, passenger-only can be a sport changer for the crisis-level automotive ferry dysfunction we’re experiencing.
Tens of hundreds of Washingtonians are routinely unable to get to or from work and faculty, important medical appointments, occasions, or simply to buy or see family and friends as a result of our ferry is canceled or has lengthy delays. The Evergreen State is a pacesetter in defending the environment in some ways, however in terms of transferring folks throughout the water, there’s an enormous disconnect.
“Foot ferries” or “water taxis” have a dependable on-time observe report, and make it a lot simpler to go carless and get the place we’re going utilizing public transit. However, for instance, the water taxi between downtown Seattle and Vashon Island solely runs throughout “commuter” hours within the early morning and late afternoon. With no noon, evenings or weekend runs, it solely works for a small share of us.
Increasing passenger ferry service is a win-win: serving to folks get the place they should go and decreasing automobile congestion and air pollution whereas the state works to repair the inequitable lack of entry to transportation for island communities.
Kristin Hyde, Vashon
