During the 1st phase of the project the project team has defined a set of service options, representing a range of possibilities, offering both more and less service than the 2008-09 service plan as a starting point for analysis. The options analysis will assess the impact on users and on subsidies…. and provide an important information base for the public involvement phase. The analysis will assist decision makers and all involved parties to determine a balance between service quality, fares and subsidy.
Option Identification
Six principles were used in selecting service options:
- Each option must be capable of operating for ten years
- Options must be capable of serving the ports that are currently being served and
- Being delivered by the existing fleet
- The options must offer a range of service quality and subsidy, both higher and lower than the current service
- Each option must be supported by sound financial data
- Options must be practical and doable
Three of four options were defined using these principles. The 4th option was taken from the 2004 SE Alaska Transportation Plan.
4 Service Options for Initial Analysis
1. Status Quo: This is the service level being operated in 2008/09 and will be modeled for a ten-year period. A variation of this model will also be considered. This will see the replacement of the Malaspina by a new shuttle ferry in year 7. The service between year 7 and 10 will mirror the current level as closely as possible, to highlight the efficiencies of the new vessel.
2. Service Reduction: This option will retire the Malaspina, without replacement and operate with 10 rather than 11 vessels in peak season. A variation of this plan will be modeled, retiring the Kennicott, rather than the Malaspina. The retirement of the Kennicott will highlight the cost differential between these two vessels… and the pros and cons of the cross gulf service that is now operated by the Kennicott.
3. Service Expansion: This plan is very similar to the service level operated 2 years ago. The plan utilizes all vessels to their full ability and represents the maximum amount of service that the existing fleet is able to offer.
4. Multiple Day Boat Shuttles: The SE Alaska Transportation Plan looked at several scenarios where roads would be used to reduce the length of routes and replace existing vessels with smaller more efficient day boats. This option analyzes the effect of the Juneau Access Highway on AMHS operation. The highway, a new road between Juneau and a ferry terminal at Katzehin, would see 2 new shuttle ferries operating between Haines, Skagway and Katzehin.
Ferry service between Juneau, Haines and Skagway would be replaced by road travel plus the shuttle ferry service. The Malaspina and the Taku would be retired. A 3rd shuttle ferry would provide the remaining services now provided by each of these vessels.
The current service plan will operate until 2019, at which time it is assumed the new highway would open and the revised ferry service go into place. Financial modeling will be run for another 20 years.