Legislative Tracker

10th District lawmaker’s communities would be directly affected

“The governor’s ferry proposal comes as a surprise to state lawmakers in districts that would be affected. It appears short on details, but long on bureaucracy. The proposal does not seem very well thought out and this worries me.
“There’s no question our ferry system needs reformed. I’m open to new and bold ideas, including a new governance structure, if the end result is a more sustainable and reliable system. However, I’m opposed to new bureaucracy, with the authority to place larger tax and fee burdens on my communities, if there is no guarantee of these critical goals.
“Ferries are an important part of our state highway system and their costs should not fall disproportionately on only certain communities. People in these communities are already paying increased costs for service. When a section of I-5 needs maintained, we don’t expect just the people in the nearby communities to pay for it. The same principle should apply to ferries.
“I would like to explore other governance models, including private-sector options, which recognize our ferry system as part of the state’s overall transportation grid and promote accountability. We must also find solutions that ensure better management of our capital investments.”
For more information on the governor’s proposal click here.

Rep. Barbara Bailey represents the 10th District.