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Gale force ferry service warnings

Posted Wed, Feb 8, 2 a.m.

By C.B. Hall

The state is talking about cuts in the neighborhood of 40 percent. But would such drastic cuts really happen?

Heritage Turkey Watch

Posted Fri, Jan 27, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

The Kalakala still floats, for now, plus Seattle's plywood "space shuttle," demolition fight in Spokane, and other preservation news.

State's newest ferries are proving pricey

Posted Thu, Jan 26, 2 a.m.

By C.B. Hall

The ferries were bought at a high price and have some odd characteristics: the tendency to list, the engines that seem to waste fuel, and tight quarters for vehicles. They are very comfortable, but the state is looking at a potentially bleak future for ferry service finances. Updated: The ferry system has provided a statement about an award given to the new ferries.

Heritage Turkeys of the year

Posted Mon, Jan 9, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Who did most to raze, wreck, uproot, neglect, and generally trash our historic treasures in 2011? The envelopes, please...

Best of 2011: The fragile state of Washington's ferries

Posted Sat, Dec 31, 2 a.m.

By C.B. Hall

A recent disruption in ferry service to the San Juan Islands illuminated just how close Washington's ferry system is to the edge. Can a new government task force resuscitate the struggling system?

Kingston-Seattle ferry bounces on iffy financial seas

Posted Fri, Nov 4, 7:38 a.m.

By C.B. Hall

Passengers' ability to use the ORCA card could provide a boost. But one expert wonders if the service should be seasonal, as is common with passenger-only boats.

The fragile state of Washington's ferries

Posted Wed, Oct 26, 2 a.m.

By C.B. Hall

A recent disruption in ferry service to the San Juan Islands illuminated just how close Washington's ferry system is to the edge. Can a new government task force resuscitate the struggling system?

The Cascadia conundrum: Balkanized transportation

Posted Tue, Oct 4, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Puget Sound is a poster child for the problems of regional transportation planning. One big roadblock: long-standing distrust of Seattle.

Standoff resolved on Lummi Island ferry

Posted Fri, Jul 8, 5:51 p.m.

By Bob Simmons

The peace treaty contains an unusual clause for dealing with the media, and appears to be a climb-down by the Lummi Nation.

Anacortes' ferry terminal: case study for how NOT to do a public-private partnership

Posted Mon, Jun 27, 2 a.m.

By C.B. Hall

Such partnerships are all the rage in times of lean budgets, but they can run into roadblocks, as this project illustrates. For one thing, the state is a partner with no money.

Ferry 'reform' passes in Olympia, staving off big cuts (for now)

Posted Thu, Jun 2, 2 a.m.

By C.B. Hall

Gov. Gregoire's sweeping reform proposal never went anywhere, but it did spur other bills. Efforts to fund the flagging system ran afoul of Republican opposition. A long-term solution proved impossible.

Ferry system to get fresh Band-Aids

Posted Mon, Apr 18, 2 a.m.

By C.B. Hall

Gov. Gregoire appears to have given up on the comprehensive reforms she demanded in January. San Juan Islands legislators are talking about the best session in a long time.

Rough seas for Puget Sound's foot ferries

Posted Wed, Feb 9, 2 a.m.

By C.B. Hall

Mechanical problems, low ridership, money woes, and scant coordination among water and land transit systems: What else can go wrong? And what's the best route to calmer waters?

The would-be county killers

Posted Tue, Feb 1, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

A new proposal in Olympia targets counties that are obsolete and take more than they give back. It's an aggressive opening to an important debate.

Letter to Editor: Protect ferry workers

Posted Sat, Jan 29, 2 a.m.

By Letters Editor

Why do politicians want to pick on hard-working staffers?

To fix the ferry system, sell those boats

Posted Thu, Jan 20, 1:45 p.m.

By Scott St. Clair

The governor's proposal to shift some funding to a local district just moves the problem around. So how about privatizing the system?

Gregoire's encouraging push toward a new localism

Posted Thu, Jan 13, 2 a.m.

By David Brewster

Disaggregating the mushy amalgam of federal, state, and local programs is the hot new idea in political reform, with appeals to the left and right. It's encouraging to see the governor promoting this kind of divestment.

Gregoire has her best week in years

Posted Wed, Jan 12, 1 p.m.

By Richard S. Davis

She served notice that she wants to get things done this session, and not just tweaks and twiddles. Only the ferry-district proposal seemed like an overreach.

Searching out state 'waste' is a fool's errand

Posted Fri, Jan 7, 2 a.m.

By Roger Valdez

It takes time and money for government to wring its hands about waste, fraud, and abuse. What about taking a page from the private sector?

Best of Crosscut 2010: What sort of leadership can restore public trust?

Posted Mon, Dec 20, 2 a.m.

By Jordan Royer

Washington voters showed again that they don't trust the leadership with their tax money, something that has been the case for more than a decade since the construction of Safeco Field. Changing the way that the state does business is something that can't be avoided any longer.

Ferries Blog posts

Midday Scan: Viaduct museum; see you in court over liquor jobs; Kalakala's 'significance'

Posted Wed, Dec 7, 11 a.m. 2011

by Pete Jackson

Maybe the money for a viaduct museum helps Pioneer Square. Costco's initiative faces a court challenge. McGinn talks police reform. And the owner of the one-time ferry Kalakala speaks of the "global" importance of the dilapidated ship.

Whale-watching for free, aboard the state ferries

Posted Fri, Oct 21, 8:34 a.m. 2011

by Sue Frause

The orcas are venturing south into the Sound this time of year, and the Ferry system has ways to spot them; plus on-shore viewing sites facilitated by The Whale Trail.

Navigating Puget Sound's traffic can require shifty moves

Posted Wed, Aug 3, 2 a.m. 2011

by Sue Frause

People wondered why I was riding the shuttle from Mukilteo to Sea-Tac in order to get to a Sounders soccer game. But it worked out to be pretty reasonable.

State's new ferry provides a sub view

Posted Tue, Jul 12, 8:50 p.m. 2011

by Sue Frause

Like its sister ship, the new Salish is a bit of a fashion disaster. But it improves service on a run where you might spot a whale, or a whale of a Navy vessel.