2/10/2004
Whatcom County Council Public Works Committee
Lummi Island Ferry 20- Year Plan
DRAFT OUTLINE
Section Content
I. Purpose of the 20- Year Plan
II. August 2001 Charette Report
III. 2003 Lummi Island Sub-Area Plan
IV. Historical Ferry Utilization
V. Future Ferry Service Demands
VI. Level of Service Standards
VII. Future Operational Alternatives and Financial Analysis
VIII. Recommendations
Attachments:
1. Single Question (three options) survey
2. Financial Information pertaining to the three options
3. Cost estimates for various system elements
4. Recent “Tome” article
Mailed “single question” survey to all registered voters on Lummi Island
Select ONE statement that most accurately describes your preferred alternative for responding to projected population growth on Lummi Island:
1. Whatcom County should appreciably increase vehicle carrying capacity as the Island population grows. A larger vessel or another vessel to supplement the Whatcom Chief would be required.
2. Whatcom County should not increase vehicle carrying capacity. More parking and better transit can accommodate projected growth.
3. Whatcom County should not increase parking or vehicle carrying capacity. As population grows service levels will decrease.
In order for the Lummi Island Community to select one of these as a “preferred” alternative, it is reasonable that they would expect financial information as to what these alternatives mean. However, providing detailed financial information will be very difficult due to:
– Unknown final system design features included in a preferred alternative, including extent of ADA requirements
– Unknown availability of state and federal financial support
– Unknown impact from a Gooseberry Point ferry dock “lease” renewal
Unknown “fare box” or other form of island resident share of future capital costs
(Note: For reference purposes, current car/driver cash fare = $4.00. Each $1.00 increase in the car/driver fare (with similar magnitude increase in other fare categories) currently generates $150,000 – $160,000 per year.)
In an attempt to provide as much information as possible, following are possible scenarios that
each of the three alternate statements could represent (noted in 2003 dollars):
1. Whatcom County should appreciably increase vehicle carrying capacity as the Island population grows. A larger vessel or another vessel to supplement the Whatcom Chief would be required.
A new ferry can be designed and constructed to fit within the existing docks, with
operating cost being similar to today.
30-car ferry = $4,300,000 ($345,000 per year for 20 yrs. (5% int.))
40-car ferry = $6,100,000 ($490,000 per year for 20 yrs. (5% int.))
Retain existing ferry, for dry-dock purposes = $100,000 per year moorage and upkeep
Annual Cost Range
Full Cost = $445,000 – $590,000 per year
With 25% state/federal for capital = $360,000 – $465,000 per year
Other considerations / options:
o Separate car and pedestrian loading
o Needed dock work to support operational preferences
o In order to improve safety and operational efficiency, off-boat ticketing should be considered for implementation (= $100,000 – $200,000 per year, subject to level of automation technology applied)
2. Whatcom County should not increase vehicle carrying capacity. More parking and better transit can accommodate projected growth.
Parking stalls = $5,000 – $6,000 (each) for land and construction 100 stalls = $500,000 to $600,000 ($40,000 – $50,000 per year for 20 yrs. (5% int.))
Two 15-passenger Shuttle Vans (1 each side – 10-hour day) = $230,000 per year
Expanded passenger waiting area (??)
At some point in time a new car ferry will be needed (10-15 years) in addition to the above – 20-car ferry = $2,800,000 ($225,000 per year for 20 yrs. (5% int.))
Other considerations / options:
o Supplement the ferry with a passenger only vessel
o Separate car and pedestrian loading
o Transit style bus in place of van (increased capacity)
o Needed dock work to support operational preferences
o In order to improve safety and operational efficiency, off-boat ticketing should be considered for implementation (= $100,000 – $200,000 per year, subject to level of automation technology applied)
3. Whatcom County should not increase parking or vehicle carrying capacity. As
population grows service levels will decrease.
At some point in time a new car ferry will be needed (10-15 years).
20-car ferry = $2,800,000 ($225,000 per year for 20 yrs. (5% int.))
Other considerations / options:
o In order to improve safety and operational efficiency, off-boat ticketing should be considered for implementation (= $100,000 – $200,000 per year, subject to level of automation technology applied)
· .
Lummi Island Ferry – 20-year Plan
Notes:
1 Cost estimates include engineering design/construction costs (20% boats /30% docks)
2 Capital investments require compliance with ADA standards
October 2003 DRAFT
Annualized
Est. Cost Cost (20-yr)
Item Capital Element (2003 $$) (2003 $$) Comment
A 20-Car Ferry $2,800,000 $140,000
B 30-CarFerry $4,300,000 $215,000
C 40-Car Ferry $6,100,000 $305,000
D 50-Car Ferry $9,200,000 $ $460,000
E 49-passenger only boat $600,000 $30,000 20-knot design
F 149-passenger only boat $1,500,000 $75,000 15-knot design
G 14~-passenger only boat $2,100,000 $105,000 27 -knot design
H Replace towers/transfer span $3,100,000 $155,000 per side
I Replace wings/dolphins $2,600,000 $130,000 per side
J New full dock $5,700,000 $285,000 per side
K New passenger boat dock $1,300,000 $65,000 separate from ferry dock
L
M “Stand-by· existing ferry $100,000 /year
N 3-person crew $750,000 …/year 19 hours/day – 7 days/week (12 FTEs)
O 2004 3-person crew /year under terms of new labor agreement
P 1-Off-boat ticketing attendant $175,000 /year 19 hours/day – 7 days/week (4 FTEs)
Q 1-Security Guard $55,000 /year 10 hours/day – 7 days/week (2.0 – 2.5 FTEs)
R Parking Lot $5,000 /stall assumes land available at market price
S 1-Shuttle van (split 6 hour day) $6,000 /month 15-passenger
$72,000 /year
T 1-Shuttle van (10 hour day) $9,500 /month 15-passenger
$114,000 /year
U 2003 Total Operating Costs (est.) $1,210,000
2003 Fare Box Revenue (est.) $642,000 53.1 %
V 2004 Total Operating costs (est.)
Recent Tome Article:
“There are three issues that the committee would like to bring to the attention of Islanders. These are: the Twenty Year Ferry Plan, the costs associated with the implementation of that Plan and a survey that the county Department of Public Works will be sending to Islanders in the near future. Both state and county law mandate the Twenty-year Plan, along with other plans that have to do with ferry operations. Work on these plans has been going on for several years. One question that seems to have not been answered to the satisfaction of Islanders and the County is how the majority of Islanders would like capital expenditures specifically focused. The survey will ask a few general questions along the lines of the following.
Do you favor: (1) Additional vehicle carrying capacity. (2) Improvements to increase parking, walk-ons and bus/van service. (3) To not significantly change the current system.
These questions ARE NOT necessarily the questions that will be on the survey. The survey will be written by Public Works. This survey will take the place of a Non-Binding Advisory Measure that the committee had proposed for last November’s ballot but which we were not able to get on the ballot.
The committee has asked Public Works to present Islanders with as much detailed information as possible about the cost of the various choices that will be on the survey prior to sending the survey out. We have also asked for the possible funding sources for these alternatives. The committee will post written information on the island and hold a Public meeting on February 23rd at the Grange at 7:00 PM. This meeting will replace the committee’s regular meeting in February.
As a committee we are concerned that Lummi Islanders have as detailed a picture as possible about the capital costs, funding sources and fare structuring that would be associated with the options presented in the survey. It is extremely important to the committee, and we believe to County government, that the survey and the process of informing Islanders be as complete and broad based as possible.
The committee recognizes that there are some limits on how specific you can be about the survey question areas mentioned above. However, we feel that because of the consequences of any decisions made about planning and subsequent actions taken concerning island transportation that we cannot put off facing as squarely as possible the economic and operational outcome of our choices. It is the committee’s goal that we all come away from this survey with an answer to the question, “what do Lummi Islanders want”.
Updated: 2020/09/12 @ 1:44 pm Tark Henderson