The reports in The Capital, about the recent trip to Sweden by the 20+ member entourage of State, County and City officials was both curious and informative.
“Curious” because sending 20 politicians and bureaucrats 4,000+ miles to “learn about resiliency and sustainability”, (along with electric ferry dreaming), seemed excessive, regardless of “who” paid for the trip. Those politicians and bureaucrats should have been “at home” dealing with the substantial existing problems that continue to be neglected, rather than “researching” inconsequential solutions for a ferry system.
The relevancy of the trip was a mystery, as well: Stockholm is a city of almost one million people; it is 50% larger than Anne Arundel County’s 680,000 residents and 25 times larger than Annapolis’ 40,000 citizens. The economies-of-scale for ANY service or infrastructure investment just don’t compare. We heard about the Swede’s affection for bicycle travel which relies on the extensive rail system in Sweden (and throughout Western Europe), but this life-style choice is, historically, due to the very high cost for “petrol” (gasoline/diesel). In fact, while the entourage was in Sweden, the average cost for “petrol” in Stockholm was more than $7.00 per gallon vs $3.00 in Annapolis. That price differential might drive many out of their SUVs into smaller cars. Few, if any, would opt for a bicycle as their primary transport until mass transit was extensive, convenient and cheap. We have none of that in Anne Arundel County. In fact, the City’s transportation (bus) system is so infrequently used it returns far less than the “fare-box recovery” expected by federal bus grants.
The Mayor’s ferry obsession makes absolutely no sense, either: spending $2-3 million of tax-payer funds on a 15-person electric passenger ferry to cross the 500 yds of Spa Creek from Fifth Street in Eastport to the proposed Maritime Welcome Center. As usual, there is scant consideration of infrastructure needs to accommodate this vessel, or recognition that such a ferry would require (several) U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton licensed captains to operate it. Maintenance and operating costs, as usual, are never disclosed or, worse, ignored altogether. Remember that “Ferris wheel” Gavin campaigned on? This is the floating version of it!
While the post-trip report from the Mayor was about “sustainability” the pre-trip hype was about visiting a factory that builds electric ferries, which has been on the Mayor’s “wish list” for a long time. And the trip to Sweden took place, despite federal initiatives to “Buy American-built vessels” or adhering to the rigorous standards of the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) which requires every vessel that travels in U.S. waters and carries more than 12 passengers to be built, owned and operated by U.S entities.
If a “bright spot” existed it was County Executive Steuart Pittman’s comment that “more study is needed” before adoption of a similar system is made”. And the idea that “economies-of-scale” are relevant! Mr. Pittman is on to something! We should be researching the cost-benefit of “shared services” between the County and City. Just imagine the significant cost savings that could be realized with, for example, Recreation & Parks staffed and managed by the County and used by City and County residents, alike. No need for two separate R&P departments. The same could be done with other services, too, like Transportation, Fire and Emergency Management (EMS), Refueling Facility, Purchasing or Information Management, or … you name it. After all, we already benefit from economies-of-scale through the County’s Board of Education, Library system, and departments of Health, Aging & Disabilities, Detention, Social Services and Animal Control. Additionally, the County sends bills for the City’s property taxes, operates the joint sewage treatment facility on Edgewood Road and operates the County landfills. No, we are not suggesting merging the City and County. But the idea of additional ”shared services” needs serious consideration. We are ALL County residents, so why shouldn’t Annapolis taxpayers benefit from lower taxes through economies-of-scale? Significant savings and operating efficiencies seem realistically achievable.
County Budget Director Chris Trumbauer also made a relevant observation: it is up to the respective governments “to identify their priorities”. That’s right, … governments need to identify essential “needs” before embracing feel-good “wants”. For the City and County to spend valuable resources of time and money pursuing something as esoteric and non-essential as an electric ferry system provides very little “bang for the buck”. Acquisition costs may be mitigated with federal funds (don’t forget, they’re our tax dollars, too!), but operational and maintenance costs, along with required infrastructure are passed on to the local tax-payer without significant benefit for the community. Please, don’t try to force-feed the community a ferry system whose need has never been identified. Instead, it’s time for the Mayor and Council to focus on the “here and now” needs, like the long-delayed utility undergrounding in the Historic District; fixing the street and garage parking mess that is angering residents and alienating visitors; finding a long-term solution to the persistent flooding of Compromise Street; re-bricking of Main Street when the resiliency work on City Dock is completed… and other pressing City needs. There is PLENTY to do!
Good government requires responsible management of our tax dollars and community assets on those “lunch-box” issues like public safety, functioning and reliable water and sewer systems, along with providing clean and well-maintained community assets, like streets, walkways and parks. This City has much more to do – at home – before investigating “what works” in Scandinavia.
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Bill Kardash lives in Ward 1 and is Chairman of
Annapolitans for a Better Community.
He can be reached at [email protected]
