Editor,

Your Jan. 14 edition of The Record misquoted Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson in a ferries article. She did not say fares went up 200 percent since 2000. She said fares have risen “over 100 percent” (actually 101 percent) while nationwide inflation has caused prices to rise 33.2 percent over the same period.

Since the loss of the motor vehicle excise tax funds dedicated to ferries in 2000, ferry fares have risen dramatically to where they pay for 70 percent of ferry operating costs versus the gas tax which funds 15-20 percent of roads. That’s 70 percent on average. The Mukilteo-Clinton route is the most lucrative route for Washington State Ferries with close to 100 percent paid for via the fare box. It is time to bring fares more in line with what mainland motorists pay, and Governor Jay Inslee’s budget begins this by proposing to freeze fares for the next two years. Better yet, how about a fare reduction for Mukilteo-Clinton? Reasonable fares are important to the vitality of Whidbey Island.

The article also noted that ferries have been reliable 99.5 percent of the time. That overall rating is great but it doesn’t reflect the situation on the Coupeville to Port Townsend route. This run experienced its worst performance in 15 years with 444 cancellations (excluding 2007 when the steel-electric boats were suddenly pulled from service). Weather and tides account for 363 of these cancellations. Safety concerns are preeminent on this run. The crews, masters, and port captain are to be congratulated for their safety record.

There are efforts underway to identify anything that can help improve performance on the Coupeville run. This route has the highest ratio of commercial traffic and is a vital link to our island heath. Lynne Griffith, the new ferries chief, brings with her some confidence that there will be performance improvements throughout the system.

RALPH YOUNG

Ledgewood