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Post by ferryfast admin on Mar 10, 2006 1:16:17 GMT -5
Thursday, March 9, 2006
Bill would let counties run foot-ferry service
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff seattlepi.nwsource.com/
State lawmakers are trying another way to provide cross-Puget Sound foot-ferry service by allowing King or Kitsap County to take over the Seattle-Vashon-Southworth run from the state.
Senate Bill 6787 was approved by the Democrat-controlled House on Wednesday. It said Washington State Ferries can continue the Seattle-to-Vashon foot-ferry service at the current service level but permits either of the two counties to create a ferry district and to begin Seattle-Vashon-Southworth service by mid-2007, with approval from the governor.
The measure attempts to resolve a long-standing argument over foot-ferry service, which has pitted public and private operators against each other for a service the state largely abandoned at one point.
The adopted measure directs the state to sell two of its high-speed ferries and put the money into a fund for operating grants, which in turn can be used to subsidize operations or pay facility costs.
The measure anticipates a possible foot-ferry service subsidy between Kingston and Seattle, a route served for several months last year by a private operator until it was suspended because of low ridership and high fuel costs.
A plan for Kingston service would have to be submitted to the governor and Legislature by Nov. 1.
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