Time to privatize, reform WSF

Published 3:34 pm Friday, March 30, 2012

Regarding the state Supplemental Transportation Budget:
While it is incontestable that the state Department of Transportation and Washington State Ferries must replace an aging fleet, the greater question is how does WSF become financially sustainable long term?  Last year, Gov. Chris Gregoire’s Blue-Panel Commission on WSF Reform issued a number of provocative and innovative reform proposals.  The effort at WSF reform appears to have disappeared. Why?

Vigor Industrial (formerly Todd Shipyards) is the yard building the  latest vessels. This begs the question of why the Legislature does not empower WSDOT to seek nationwide construction bids on vessel construction.  National competitive bidding works well for the U.S. Navy and USCG, rather than having construction limited to the admiral’s home district.  Washington taxpayers deserve the greatest buying power for their tax dollars and seeing WSF procurement come in 25 percent higher is not good business practice.

It is time for serious privatization of many WSDOT/WSF functions, including design and construction-management of new ferries.  And why, in a 21st Century engineering world where China can bang out a complex high-speed rail system in record time, can’t Olympia have several bridges span Puget Sound? Bridging the Sound would reduce our fiscally-challenged reliance on an ever-costly and aging ferry system and give West Sound and beyond a true connection to the State highways.

It is time for serious action on WSF and not just feel-good amendments from local legislators saying WSF will continue to operate as before. We need innovation, not assurance of more of the same.

James M. Olsen
Bainbridge Island