You made a difference!

Greetings Supporters of Save Fauntleroy Cove!

Congratulations! 

YOUR efforts created additional pressure which helped Washington State Ferries (WSF) decide to no longer pursue expansion over Cove Park. The numerous letters and kids' drawings sent to our officials, financial support and posting the signs, ALL made a huge difference! What a great learning experience for your children - to realize their voice and efforts can make a difference! Thank you!!!

Now What... 

If you listened to the Advisory Board meeting (link attached below), WSF still plans on expanding into the Sound and "selective" expansion north, after Cove Park. This will have very negative ramifications for the Salmon Stream, other marine life, the Fauntleroy community and all of West Seattle. WSF ended the Zoom call clarifying no one had additional issues to be dealt with, except the Good To Go study and a request to look at a remote kiosk (the kiosk idea supports part of the solution below). 

WSF referred to the Good To Go study to be performed, "before or during construction". Doesn't take much imagination to conclude WSF feels Good To Go will not be an acceptable solution to their operational issues and goals. They are clearly pushing for expansion as the only solution. WSF has put the community in "Check" and WSF feels it is, "Checkmate."

Please remember 80% to 90% of the Fauntleroy ferry cars are Single Occupant Vehicles - the highest in the ferry system! In every other transportation plan (City, State or National) there is always a strong element to reduce the number of Single Occupant Vehicles. Why not at the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal? 

Solution Not Yet Considered

The following two-prong solution offers the efficiency and capacity goals of WSF, without expansion. 

First, a limited raised curb holding lane would be created between the lower parking lot and upper parking lot. Within that limited holding area, there would be a scanner for Good To Go or whatever technology is selected (could even do it manually until then). There would also be a voice activated (or touch screen) device to enter the number of passengers in the vehicle. The Coast Guard requires WSF to have this information in case of an emergency. A second scanner would be located somewhere on the dock to verify.

To accommodate a raised curb lane, the holding area may need to be moved west a few feet. That would mean the sidewalk may also need to be moved in or it could remain as is but closer to the cars. (This area is actually owned by SDOT and not the Parks Department.) In this area, there is an overgrown drainage ditch which makes the park inaccessible. Suggest the drainage ditch be filled with gravel like it was at the north end of the park. This will improve the park, provide extra area and make the park more accessible. 

This holding lane plus the area in front of the residential driveways has a capacity of roughly 100 vehicles. Combined with the 80 vehicles on the dock, that equals 180 total vehicles. Of course, the queue lane can extend north as far as necessary according to demand. 

Benefits

1. Creates a smooth and efficient queue line to board the ferry, potentially just as efficient as an expanded dock
2. Eliminates aggression of people cutting in line
3. Accommodates Good to Go or other technology scanning
4. Satisfies Coast Guard requirements
5. Benefits the professional commuter by simplifying the process
6. WSF employees can be utilized for more important needs
7. Is not an eyesore or detriment to Lincoln Park
8. Friends of Lincoln Park should not object

 Second, a very simple fare adjustment for non-peak commuter time will motivate commuters to change habits. Suggest the non-peak fare should be close to free or free. Non-peak ferries operate with very few cars on them now. This would not apply to weekends, of course.  

Combined with fare adjustment for non-peak times, this is a viable and cost-effective solution with little or no downside. This plan could be implemented now instead of years in the future.

Alternatively, if fares were only collected on ferries going east, there would not be a problem in Fauntleroy. (Vashon will kill that idea.)

You can help by sharing this with our elected officials and other interested parties. We hope to also present to the City Council at some point.

 
Link to the meeting 9.21.22:  (1743) Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal Trestle and Transfer Span Replacement Project - CAG Meeting #8 - YouTube  

The following elected officials and agencies can influence this decision (directly or often indirectly...which can be more effective). 

Please share the above email with them and ask for their support to not expand the dock and consider this alternative.

SEATTLE OFFICIALS 

Mayor City of Seattle, Bruce Harrell: bruce.harrell@seattle.gov

Councilmember & on the Executive Ferry Advisory Committee, Lisa Herbold: Lisa.Herbold@seattle.gov  

City Council Transportation Chair, Alex Pedersen: Alex.Pedersen@seattle.gov

Citywide Councilmember, Teresa Mosqueda: Teresa.Mosqueda@seattle.gov

Citywide Councilmember, Sara Nelson: Sara.Nelson@seattle.gov  

Council President, Debora Juarez:  Debora.Juarez@seattle.gov 

Executive Director Seattle Planning Commission, Vanessa Murdock: vanessa.murdock@seattle.gov

Attorney City of Seattle, Ann Davidson: Ann.Davison@seattle.gov

Director City of Seattle Office of Intergovernmental Relations, Gael D. Tarleton: Gael.Tarleton@seattle.gov

Interim Director Seattle Department of Transportation, Kristen Simpson: kristen.simpson@seattle.gov

Councilmember, Andrew Lewis: Andrew.Lewis@seattle.gov 

Councilmember, Tammy Morales: Tammy.Morales@seattle.gov 

Councilmember, Kshama Sawant: Kshama.Sawant@seattle.gov 

Councilmember, Dan Strauss: Dan.Strauss@seattle.gov

STATE  OFFICIALS

Representative & on the Executive Ferry Advisory Committee, Eileen Cody: eileen.cody@leg.wa.gov  

Senator & on the Executive Ferry Advisory Committee, Joe Nguyen: joe.nguyen@leg.wa.gov  

Representative & on the Executive Ferry Advisory Committee, Joe Fitzgibbon: joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov  

Director Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, Megan Duffy: megan.duffy@rco.wa.gov

Environmental Justice Council: envjustice@doh.wa.gov

Executive Director Washington State Executive Ethics Board, Kate Reynolds: kate.reynolds@atg.wa.gov

Governor,  Jay Inslee: https://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/contact/send-gov-inslee-e-message

Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell - Since WSDOT acts as a fiscal agent for the Federal government, our Senators can and should influence: https://www.murray.senate.gov/write-to-patty/

https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form

KING COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS

King County Executive, Dow Constantine: kcexec@kingcounty.gov

King County Council Vice Chair & on the Executive Ferry Advisory Committee, Joe McDermott: joe.mcdermott@kingcounty.gov

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS

Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar: millarr@wsdot.wa.gov  

Assistant Secretary for Community and Economic Development, Amy Scarton: ScartoA@wsdot.wa.gov

WSDOT Assistant Secretary – Washington State Ferries & on the Executive Ferry Advisory Committee, Patty Rubstello: RubsteP@wsdot.wa.gov

Chairman Washington State Transportation Commission, Roy Jennings: transc@wstc.wa.gov

DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY & FISH AND WILDLIFE

Director Department of Ecology, Laura Watson: laura.watson@ecy.wa.gov 

Deputy Director Department of Ecology, Heather Bartlett: heather.bartlett@ecy.wa.gov

Senior Advisor Department of Ecology Tribal and Environmental Affairs, Tyson Oreiro: tyson.oreiro@ecy.wa.gov

Director of Government Relations Department of Ecology, Denise Clifford: denise.clifford@ecy.wa.gov

Director of Washington Fish and Wildlife, Kelly Susewind: Kelly.Susewind@dfw.wa.gov 

Commission Chair Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife : Barbara Baker: commission@dfw.wa.gov

EXECUTIVE FERRY ADVISORY GROUP

Sen. Emily Randall, 26th Legislative

emily.randall@leg.wa.gov  

John Clauson, Kitsap Transit Executive Director

john.clauson@kitsaptransit.com

 Ralph Rizzo, Federal Highway Administration Division Administrator 

Ralph.J.Rizzo@dot.gov

Terry White, King County Metro General Manager 

terry.white@kingcounty.gov

(Other members listed in the other categories)

MEDIA

West Seattle Blog: westseattleblog@gmail.comSave 

Seattle Weekly:

https://www.seattleweekly.com/contact/

West Side Seattle

https://www.westsideseattle.com/contact

Seattle Times:

https://www.seattletimes.com/contact/

The Stranger:

editor@thestranger.com

During the WSF Community Engagement Zoom on May 24th, WSF was asked a basic question about the percent of single occupant vehicles (SOV). 

Surprisingly, WSF said they, "did not want to cite the specifics" but then said Fauntleroy was one of the higher SOV based ferry services. Our understanding is that percent is close to 80%! 

Spending an immense amount of money and resources to support the SOV, is contrary to State, City and Federal policies and goals. First change the percent of SOV, then ask for money! Good grief!

Perhaps this whole project should be thrown out until WSF gets the SOV numbers at 50% or less. Maybe it should be 40% or 30%! The dock is likely fine for another 25 years. Prove it.

From Zoom meeting May 24th at 52.55 minutes into the recording: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlp17Mk5byw

SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SIGN UP FOR OUR MAILING LIST. 

 WSF is completely ignoring Resolution #29566 the City of Seattle passed which does not allow expansion of the ferry dock. 

Ask our officials to respect and support the resolution. Tell these officials the expansion options for the ferry terminal replacement must be taken off the table NOW! Ask for an email of support. 

Resolution #29566 was written to not allow expansion beyond the current footprint - it simply is not needed: 

http://clerk.seattle.gov/search/resolutions/29566  

Predetermined? Appears that way. On page 138 of the 2040 Plan, WSF specifically refers to "expansion of holding lanes." This devil in the detail provides revealing intentions without the slightest qualifier or reference to a screening process of alternatives. 

WSF involves members of the community in Advisory Boards to provide local input on operational issues. These folks work very hard for their communities, and we greatly appreciate their commitment and hard work!!! They absolutely help with day-to-day operational issues and have made very important suggestions to include in the alternatives.  Again, we appreciate them and their hard work. 

 HOWEVER, when it comes to the major decision, they have no vote.  Their job description does not include participating in deciding on an alternative. Worse yet, the WSF can then use the involvement of these "Advisory Committees" to justify a likely pre-determined preferred plan. WSF can then claim the public "had a voice."

 The advisory process is effective at diluting the opposition and neutralizing community groups. *

 https://dev-wsdot-wsdot.pantheonsite.io/sites/default/files/2021-10/WSF-LongRangePlan-2040Plan.pdf

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ANALOGY 

Say you really like chocolate ice cream, but your family gives you a hard time about always ordering chocolate. On the way to Husky's to get ice cream, you ask everyone to advise you on what they think you should order. Your daughter says, "oh spumoni is the best." Your son says, "don't get ice cream, frozen yogurt is much better for you." Your spouse says, "I love vanilla." 

You thank your ice cream advisory committee for their time and for their advice. It is your turn to order..."What kind of ice cream would you like?" Answer: "Chocolate please." In the end, it is pretty obvious the WSF will order chocolate. The Advisory Committees are only as good as the advice WSF accepts.

STACKED COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP 

In addition, the "Community Advisory Group " is made up of 15 residents from the west side and 6 from the Fauntleroy side. 

https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/major-projects/sr-160-fauntleroy-terminal-trestle-transfer-span-replacement

When WSF met with our City Council member, they did not even bring up the resolution or initiative which protects The Children's (Cove) Park. Is it WSF's intention to bully the City Council once they complete their process, or did they just forget to be polite?

*Again, we want to make it very clear we deeply appreciate and thank our advisory members for their commitment, time and hard work. They have contributed very important ideas such as, Good To Go. However, when it comes to the big issue regarding expansion, it is doubtful their requests will carry the same weight.

We also want to say that the folks at WSF seem like very decent people. The problem is they are tasked with a job to do, and that mission may very well destroy the character of our community. 

SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SIGN UP FOR OUR MAILING LIST. 

You are entitled to information from our government agencies. Example: Maybe you want all emails, texts and other communications regarding the expansion of the Fauntleroy ferry dock between the Secretary of Transportation, Roger Millar and the former Washington State Ferry System Director, Amy Scarton. You can request. Example: Maybe you want to review the technical study that claims the dock absolutely needs to be replaced now and will not last another 25 years, you can ask.

Washington Public Records Act The Washington Public Records Act is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies at all levels. Washington law defines records as “any writing containing information relating to the conduct of government or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.”

A recent Supreme Court ruling has said that accident reports are also public records.  Anyone can request records and a statement of purpose is not required, nor are there restrictions placed on the use of records. 

The Washington Public Records Act allows 5 days for records responses.  Public Records Act Chapter 42.56 RCW  

Visit, Washington Sample FOIA Request, to view a sample FOIA: https://www.nfoic.org/washington-sample-foia-request/

https://www.nfoic.org/washington-foia-laws/