The ferry schedule is woefully deficient. Southeast and Southwest Alaska deserve better. Wrangell and Petersburg deserve better service than twice a month, as best as I can tell from the state's deficient description of the service schedule. And the rest of Southeast — Ketchikan, Juneau, etc. — the Department of Transportation is completely cutting off Seldovia and other Southwest ports, which is unconscionable.
There are gaps in service for several weeks to most ports; that is completely undeserving, negligent and grossly mismanaged scheduling. Yes, I understand this is partly driven from budget constraints, but also from an uncaring, mean-spirited, Railbelt-oriented administration. Southeast and Southwest Alaska deserve better; all of Alaska deserves better. Every dollar spent on the ferry system multiples through commerce and tourism throughout the state.
We live in the Alexander Archipelago, one of the most beautiful amazing productive coastlines of islands in the world. The ferry system is a vital network connecting our towns and villages and commerce to Alaska and the world. When you constrict the flow of people, goods and services, construction equipment, commerce in general, you make Alaska, the U.S. and the world a worse place to live. Please fund and properly schedule our vital ferry system.
Jim Foster
Haines
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