LETTER: Fauntleroy needs pre-ticketed bypass lane

Be wary of the Washington State Ferries propaganda on the need for capacity cuts to the route schedule. With the dumbed-down ticket processing, WSF would have to drop more than one run to get the dwell time at the dock to come closer to filling the boats.

The current process is simply a dressed-up version of the pig that failed last summer. Not taking advantage of the pre-ticketed bypass approved by WSF last spring is making it impossible to fill the boats. WSF has made it even more difficult by having all drivers stop at the toll booth instead of scanning pre-ticketed vehicles after the booth as well by handing each driver purchasing tickets a paper slip instead of scanning their ferry pass after they go through the booth. Assuming the dock only holds 80 vehicles, that means WSF has to process 44 more cars to fill the boat. At the best current average of say 30 seconds per vehicle, that means 22 more minutes at the dock.

Even with the longer dwell times of the two-boat schedule, WSF is not filling the boats.

It is very important that islanders stand up and are counted. Once WSF makes a serious change it will be even harder, if possible at all, to return. Sign the petition and show up for the “public” meeting I assume will happen in September. It’s your life at stake.

— Greg Beardsley