Good for the Golden Gate Bridge District for standing up to the "transit Taliban," those mindless anti-tax blowhards, and imposing a $5 toll. But Bridge District number crunchers are still staring at over $400 million in red ink. Cuts in buses and ferry routes ranging from 20-40 percent, are being serious considered. This summer promises more bad news.
Published: February, 2003
Good for the Golden Gate Bridge District for standing up to the "transit Taliban," those mindless anti-tax blowhards, and imposing a $5 toll. But Bridge District number crunchers are still staring at over $400 million in red ink. Cuts in buses and ferry routes ranging from 20-40 percent, are being serious considered. This summer promises more bad news.
A sad day has arrived for Marin County public transit riders. Bridge District toll monies aren't enough to pay for its transit services. Marin County transit riders have a right to feel stiffed and mad. The proper response is for Marin County transit riders, especially ferry riders, to be strong supporters of a one-quarter cent county sales tax increase to fund transportation projects.
Marin County needs to follow the lead of five other Bay Area counties and countless others around the State who pay more at the cash register so they can improve public transit. Low income residents in Alameda and San Mateo County are paying higher sales tax, but the Land Rover, Mercedes, and BMW drivers in Marin County aren't.
Without new transportation dollars, Marin County won't have the money needed to get federal and state matching grants. The county's credibility is at stake.
A few courageous politicians and transportation big shots are pushing hard to put a sales tax measure on the Marin County ballot. A list of transit projects is being put together. From public meetings and focus groups it is clear that ferries are still wildly popular but if ferry riders don't speak up, their will may not be reflected by the official list. The list of deserving projects is long and the Golden Gate Bridge District isn't asking for more dollars for future ferry expansion from sales tax dollars. Understandably, it has other big priorities, especially for its bus services.
The reality is that without sales tax money, there is no money to add new boats to the fleet. If ferry riders are now tired of the slower ferry boats, imagine the frustration of riding the same boats in 2010. The Golden Gate Bridge District doesn't have any long-term plans to buy new or more boats. Its priorities are modernizing ferry docks and facilities.
The WTA predicts that ridership for Marin County ferry services could double by 2025. Great! The demand is there but the bucks aren't. The WTA doesn't have money for Marin County ferry service because it will get its cash from an increase in tolls on State-owned bridges and county sales tax measures. It would be a hard sell to persuade East Bay commuters to benefit Marin County's ferry riders.
Marin County ferry riders, hear this call: If you care about the long-term future of your system, you need to support a Marin County sales tax that banks money away for ferries. This is the only way to pay for more boats that will be faster, modern, environmentally responsive and have greater flexibility in case of emergencies.
Luckily, Marin County has visionary leaders in Mayor Al Boro of San Rafael, who also sits on the WTA Board; County Supervisors Steve Kinsey, and Supervisor Cynthia Murray. They recently asked Marin County planners to look at how ferry service could be funded out of a proposed sales tax. Mayor Mike DiGiorgio of Novato has also taken a courageous stand in favor of bringing ferry service to Port Sonoma.
Marin ferry advocates should ask these officials and others who sit on Marin County Congestion Management Agency to make sure that money for future ferry service is on the list that eventually goes to voters in 2003 or 2004. Otherwise, it will be a missed opportunity twenty to thirty years - the life of this list.
Decades ago, ferry service was brought back to life by Marin County residents. It's time to secure its place for the future by making sure its future is well planned and well-funded. If the Golden Gate Bridge District is not pushing this request, it's time for Marin County ferry riders to do so. Otherwise, the Marin County ferry system will get elbowed off the sales tax table by other transit projects.
Send your letter or email urging support for Marin ferries to:
Supervisor Steve Kinsey, Chair
Marin County Congestion Management Agency
C/o Marin County Department of Public Works
P..O. Box 4186
San Rafael, CA 94912
Phone: 499-6570
Fax: 415-499-3799
Email: publicworks@marin.org
Website: www.marintraffic.org
