King County has once again missed the mark in its communications with Vashon Island.

It may make sense to find alternatives to the huge buses that roll up and down the highway on Vashon with only a handful of riders onboard. Because of our state’s heavy reliance on the sales tax, the transit agency is strapped for cash. Cuts will likely have to take place next year when a special $20 license tab fee retires, and unfortunately, Vashon’s routes are a target because of the rural nature of the Island.

But in the process of formulating this plan, the county’s outreach to “stakeholders” included an invitation to only one person from Vashon, Tim Johnson, president of the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council.

That in and of itself is of concern, since the Island is one of three areas in the county slated to participate in a pilot project to develop alternatives to full-sized buses during certain hours of the day. Equally troubling is that Johnson says he didn’t receive any email invitations, only an email thanking him for his participation.

In its introduction to its 70-page plan, Metro officials write that the proposal to find “alternatives to fixed-route bus service in less populated areas … reflects feedback from stakeholders who met earlier this year and bus riders of routes in candidate areas who participated in an online survey.”

That online survey certainly wasn’t widely advertised; only 170 people participated, and The Beachcomber never received notice about it. And even if Johnson did receive an invitation, does that constitute adequate outreach to Vashon? We don’t think so.

Those involved with the process say there is now opportunity for the public to weigh in, as the proposal is pending before the King County Council. The question before us, apparently, isn’t whether Vashon’s bus service should be “right-sized,” as Metro terms it. The issue is how that might happen and what it might look like. Could Vanpools play a bigger role? Access buses? Dial-a-Ride services?

It’s quite possible some alternatives would work for Vashon. Empty buses are costly and far from environmentally friendly.

But the county needs to be aware of and sensitive to the unique situation on Vashon Island. Suggesting Metro might work with “partner agencies” on Vashon to provide transportation services — as one county official told The Beachcomber — shows a profound lack of awareness about Island life. What “partner agencies”? In its plan, submitted to the county council, Metro notes its successful relationship with Snoqualmie Valley Transportation, a small transit agency. Nothing even close to that exists on Vashon.

County government continues to face a funding crisis, and there’s little room for waste. It is possible a new model for public transportation could be crafted on Vashon. But meaningful engagement has to be a part of the process. We trust and hope that will happen soon, before this process gets much farther down the road.