Deny Skagit County's Guemes Ferry BUILD Grant Application

US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao

RE: Skagit County 2018 BUILD Grant Application

Dear Madam Secretary,

Skagit County, Washington has applied for a 10 million dollar BUILD Grant to help in the construction of a new 22 million dollar, all-electric ferry to replace the current m/v "Guemes" ferry. We, the undersigned, believe that building a new ferry is not necessary at this time. We ask that the BUILD Grant application from Skagit County be denied for the following reasons:

I. The m/v "Guemes" ferry is only 39 years old and has many more years of life despite statements to the contrary by Skagit County officials. 1) A marine survey by Commercial Marine Services, Inc. of Seattle, WA, in 2018, finds that the m/v "Guemes" "has had continued superior maintenance and upgrading and has resulted in a 13-years or 32.5% Remaining Useful Useful Life estimate resulting in a present value in the amount of $3,412,500."
2) An analysis of the "Guemes" in 2014 by the Elliot Bay Design Group (EBDG) of Seattle states: "The overall structural integrity of the hull is considered good" and "Wastage on the shell plating was generally less than 4%".

3) Washington State Ferries, the largest ferry system in the U.S., keeps its ferries in service for 60 years before they are replaced.

4) Whatcom County, Washington's ferry, the m/v "Whatcom Chief", is 16 years older than the "Guemes" and was given 20 more years of life in a 2014 marine survey by Columbia-Sentinel Engineers, Inc. of Seattle. 

II. Less expensive alternatives for extending the life of the "Guemes" are available instead of building a new ferry. Skagit County has refused to make any plans for re-powering the "Guemes" at this time. 

1) Refitting the "Guemes" with new tier 3 diesel engines and new azimuthal outdrives could be done for an estimated cost of $1,125,000 provided by Columbia-Sentinel Engineers, Inc of Seattle. 

2) 45 million dollars from the Volkswagen Settlement is being allocated for marine vessels to replace older diesel engines. The WA State Dept. of Ecology is administering the plan and states in their Draft Mitigation Plan:"For Government Owned Eligible Ferries and/or Tugs, Beneficiaries may draw funds from the Trust in the amount of: 1. Up to 100% of the cost of a Re-power with a new diesel or Alternative Fueled(e.g CNG, propane, Hybrid engine(s) including the costs of installation of such engine(s). 2. Up to 100% of the cost of a Re-power with a new All-Electric engine(s) including the costs of installation of such engine(s) and charging infrastructure associated with the new All- Electric engine(s)."


III. Skagit County has ignored its own Comprehensive Plan/Transportation Element Policies. These Transportation Policies are intended to be used for long range transportation planning and have a common theme which is is to support the use of public transportation as an alternative to the automobile. Instead, Skagit County is proposing a ferry that has a 50% larger vehicle capacity than the present ferry. Skagit County failed to even discuss how public transportation could be a valid, less expensive alternative.

We, the undersigned agree with the proposition that the ferry "Guemes" not be replaced at this time and that Skagit County enter into negotiations with the Guemes Island Ferry Committee to reach a satisfactory resolution of this issue and that a BUILD Grant not be awarded to Skagit County at this time.