You
can tell a lot about the County's priorities by reading the architectural
language of the new ferry terminal building. First, the waiting room
is no larger in size than the existing one, but with fewer amenities.
The new area of the building is largely devoted to the crew and crew
functions, a five-fold expansion. The crew gets the upper level with
a break room equal to the passenger waiting area, but with a view and
kitchenette. The crew gets new offices, a locker room, shower, training
room, and the mechanic gets half the lower floor for a shop and parts
room. The building is long and high and will be sited on the west of
the dock, thus blocking sea views for those in line.
The
waiting room plan shows no seating, bulletin board, or vending machines--just
a room. Benches will be difficult to place because of the floor-to-ceiling
glazing on three sides of the room and a hallway and ticket counter
on the fourth side. The room has two outside doors, further chopping
up the wall space opportunities for seating. The only furnishing "call-out"
on the drawing is for a floor drain. The room might just as well as
been designed for beef cattle. Pack 'em in, hose 'em down. By contrast
the shop has several informative call-outs for specific tool and work
locations, "grinder by owner, welder by owner, computer desk by
owner, etc.," notations made with a concern for the crew and the
obvious input of the mechanic who will work in the space.
| The
project had no formal announcement - it was discovered like a spouse
finding a bar tab and a strange blonde hair on her husband's dresser. |
It
is obvious to me that in designing this building the County had conspicuous
disdain for the very people they are hired to serve--the ferry users.
The County has articulated no discernable need for this project. The
existing terminal facility has sufficed for the crew and riders for
29 years, with ferry traffic actually decreasing in recent years. At
no time did the County seek the input of the riders, hold a public hearing,
take comments on the design goals for the building, take open criticisms
of the plans, or even consider the priority of this project compared
to other pressing project needs, like piling replacement, parking lot
paving, or even general County flood control. Nor did the County consider
the option of just not spending the funds, given the million-dollar
annual ferry losses.
And,
of course, the County sought no outside capital funding for the terminal
project and will pay for it out of tax receipts. The project had no
formal announcement--it was discovered like a spouse finding a bar tab
and a strange blonde hair on her husband's dresser.
