The ferry Taku loads up at the Prince Rupert, B.C., ferry terminal in 2014. (Ed Schoenfeld/CoastAlaska News)
Port community leaders worry next summer’s ferry schedule will be as unreliable as this summer’s. CoastAlaska’s Ed Schoenfeld reports from Wednesday’s marine highway teleconference.
Budget cuts and mechanical breakdowns left many of this year’s passengers stranded, dropping destinations or switching to air travel. Town leaders say that hurt tourism, especially small-town excursions, restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts.
Wrangell Economic Development Director Carol Rushmore said she’s being asked whether it will happen again.
“It’s just so critical from an economic standpoint for our businesses and communities, that if we have all these cancellations in July and August, it’ll just be disastrous.”
Small communities dependent on the Alaska Marine Highway were hardest hit, since they had fewer alternatives.
Pelican Mayor Patricia Phillips said officials need to have backup plans when ferries break down.
“It’s essential to reschedule cancelled service due to mechanicals or scheduling changes. We have freight out here waiting to ship out, so it’s important to reschedule that service.”
It’s a worry in more than Southeast. Prince William Sound, for example, faces significant service cuts with its fast ferry tied up next year.
Alaska Travel Industry Association President Sarah Leonard said a third of her 700 member businesses are in ferry ports.
“The changes to the schedule last summer resulted in a 14 percent decline in non-resident travel on the ferry. And members told us that they lost thousands of dollars in business due to the rebookings and cancellations.”
Alaska Marine Highway officials said they’re doing their best to design a schedule that can be maintained.
That’s the reason for the deep reductions proposed for next summer, which reflect a $25 million budget cut.
Transportation Department Deputy Commissioner Mike Neussl said everything depends on legislative funding.
“There’s always risk and uncertainty there. I will do my best in testifying and communicating that it’s important that we lock that schedule in and fund the schedule we publish.”
Neussl and other ferry officials say they’ll make some changes in the draft schedule for next summer. It should be complete in December.
