Ferry Tales 75: Spare No Expense Spare

At first glance, Item 23 of the Consent Agenda for the Skagit County Commissioner’s meeting on Monday June 9, 2014 seemed shocking: 

Amendment No. 1 to Personal Services Agreement No. C20130147 with Elliott Bay Design Group to provide consultant services to prepare a ferry transportation and vessel replacement plan for the M/V Guemes. The purpose of this Amendment is to add a feasibility study using the M/V TREK in the Skagit County Ferry System as a backup car ferry for scheduled and emergency outages to the Exhibit “A” Scope of Work. All other terms and conditions of the original Agreement shall remain in effect including the total compensation amount not to exceed $150,000.

$150,000 to study the feasibility of using someone else's boat as a backup ferry?  Once you look at the actual amendment, it is clear the feasibility study is only $6427 (out of $150,000 to consider ferry replacement options). But wait! Really? $6427 to see if the M/V Trek (the Lake Union party boat) can be used to carry cars during a haul-out, presumably in place of and cheaper than the Strait Arrow?

And, why do we have to read the fine print of an obscure agenda item to find out what is being planned for our ferry?  If we will be paying for this in higher fares, should not the riders be asked if this is something they are willing to pay for? Are the number of cup holders part of the study? Why wasn’t the Guemes Island Ferry Committee informed beforehand and allowed to participate in the discussion?

- Commentary by MJ Andrak

 

"Spare no expense to save money on this one."  - Samuel Goldwyn

"Partying is such sweet sorrow."  - Robert Byrne

 

Tags: ferry