1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am a resident of Kennewick, Washington, and I am writing to express my strong concern regarding how Washington State Ferries are funded through our statewide vehicle registration fees. As a driver in Eastern Washington, I do not use the ferry system. It is unfair that vehicle owners across the entire state—many of whom live hundreds of miles from the Puget Sound and never step foot on a ferry—are forced to subsidize a regional transit system through their annual license tabs. Ferries should operate more like a toll bridge or a direct transit service. The financial burden of operating and maintaining the ferry fleet should fall directly on the people who use the service, rather than being generalized into statewide vehicle fees paid by drivers who receive no direct benefit. I urge you to support legislative changes that restructure ferry funding to rely entirely on user fares and direct system revenue, removing these costs from our general vehicle registration fees. Thank you for your time, your service, and your attention to this fairness issue for taxpayers across Washington.