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Steve Flude passed along this memo from Steve Cox, describing changes to ticketing and loading procedures.

Skagit County Public Works Department

To: Crew Members, Guemes Ferry
From: Steve Cox, Ferry Manager

Date: February 21, 2003

Subject: Ticket and Ticket Collection

As of March 1, 2003, we will have four persons per shift until further notice.
Right now we sell nine different styles of tickets as follows:

1) Car and Driver (Cash)
2) Adult Passenger (Cash)
3) Student (Cash)
4) 13 Trip Car and Driver (Frequent User)
5) 25 Trip Car and Driver (Frequent User)
6) Miscellaneous
7) Motorcycle (Cash)
8) 25 Trip Passenger (Frequent User)
9) 25 Trip Student Passenger (Frequent User)

For all of the cash purchases (car & driver, adult, student, and motorcycle) the purser (i.e. -the “new” 4th crewmember) will sell the ticket and issue a ticket stub as usual. The passenger will then proceed to the deckhand (located at the boat end of the ramp) who will then punch the stub and allow the passenger to board the ferry. (Thus, we’ve now verified that the passenger has indeed paid.) No new tickets need be purchased. We can use our current ticket stock.

For all frequent user uses, the purser will punch the card and give the passenger either a car and driver ticket stub or a passenger/walk-on ticket stub. (These stubs will be ordered and hopefully be here in time for 1 March.) the passenger will then proceed to the deckhand (located at the boat end of the ramp) who will then punch the stub and allow the passenger to board the ferry. (Thus, we’ve now verified that the passenger has indeed paid.)

This “system” will provide us with the following benefits:

a. The deckhand doesn’t need to do anything differently with respect to how the person paid. In other words, all deckhand needs to do is see the stub, punch it, and let the passenger go.

b. The purser handles all cash and sells tickets. No new bulky items are required. Instead, the purser will be required to punch frequent user cards, take money, and issue ticket stubs.

c. (1) Using the blanks (i.e. - those portions of the stubs left with the purser after he/she gives the passenger the ticket stub) the type of transaction, and therefore the type of passenger, can be recorded at the end of the shift on the day sheet. Thus, a way to gather more accurate rider-ship data then we are now.

I think it is important to keep in mind that the first priority here is to ensure that we meet the requirements of the State Audit which will occur soon. We are endeavoring to have no more Findings with the State Auditor.

(2) The second goal is to see if we can gather more rider-ship data while at the same time provide good customer service. I think we can do both of those things with this course of action. Also, I am looking at this as being an interim solution in that the task Force will need to fully discuss these issues as part of the fare discussion.

The day-sheet will have a couple of small modifications made to reflect the new information to be recorded and I will have new day-sheets available prior to March 1, 2003.