Post by ferryfast admin on Feb 21, 2008 14:35:40 GMT -5
2/20/2008 9:30:00 AM
Port Townsend Leader
www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=20120&TM=76680.67
Gov. Chris Gregoire gives the pen used to sign Senate Bill 6794 to Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen during the signing ceremony in Olympia on Feb. 14. The bill requires the construction of as many as three ferries for service on routes like Port Townsend-Keystone that require vessels with a car-carrying capacity of no more than 100 vehicles. – Submitted photo
State's quest for new ferries is under way
By Barney Burke, Leader Staff Writer
Ferry service here won't return to any semblance of "normal" for a couple of years, but Gov. Chris Gregoire on Feb. 14 signed legislation allocating $100 million for three ferries for the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
"This is an important first step towards fixing our neglected ferry system," said Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. "I'm looking forward to getting appropriate vessels onto the Keystone-Port Townsend run, as well as holding Washington State Ferries accountable for their operations and maintenance plans," said Haugen, who sponsored the bill.
The next day, Washington State Ferries called for bids for the construction of three ferries, the first of which is to be delivered in time for Mother's Day of 2009 - just in time for the closing of the Hood Canal Bridge for six weeks to replace its eastern span. Many more people come to the Olympic Peninsula via the bridge than by ferry.
The bids are to be awarded on the basis of the lowest cost for three ferries, although WSF has the option to build only one or two. The bid specifications are based on Steilacoom II, the 50-car Pierce County ferry currently leased for the PT-Keystone route.
Your ferry may vary
The legislation does not require a specific design as long as the capacity is no more than 100 vehicles. Both legislators and WSF officials have said the second and third new boats may be based on a different ferry, the Island Home.
Like Steilacoom II, Island Home was designed by the Elliott Bay Design Group of Seattle, but it's operated by the Massachusetts Steamship Authority. It's roughly the same size as the Steel Electrics, but carries about a dozen more vehicles.
After one to two feet of water washed over Steilacoom II's car deck during sea trials in Admiralty Inlet two weeks ago, Sen. Haugen and others expressed concern about having a vessel that can provide safe and reliable service during rough weather and tidal conditions.
"I think we used good judgment in drafting a bill that didn't lock us into a specific ferry design," said Haugen.
"The threshold for sailing will be less than it was with the Steel Electrics," said WSF Capt. Mark Haupt during a Feb. 8 demonstration ride on Steilacoom II. Docking during windy conditions will also be more difficult, he said.
Haugen's legislation includes funds to send Capt. Haupt, who was master of Klickitat and oversaw Steilacoom II's sea trials, to investigate Island Home in person.
Passenger-only ferries
Advocates of locally operated passenger ferry service have reason to be optimistic about another bill pending in the current legislative session.
House Bill 2730, which would allow port districts to offer passenger ferry service, is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Transportation Committee at 1:30 p.m. today, Feb. 20. The bill was previously approved by the House Transportation Committee and House Rules Committee.
The legislation would also make ports eligible for state capital and operating grants for passenger ferry service, and expands the qualified service areas to all of Puget Sound.
Public support for passenger-only ferries grew after WSF began a temporary Port Townsend-Seattle service in December to offset the sudden retirement of the Steel Electric ferries. The round-trip fare of $6.70 recovered only about 15 percent of operating costs, but boosters believe it demonstrated the potential to create a permanent service.
"[HB 2730] not only increases the possibility for passenger-only service from Port Townsend to Seattle, but it also increases the probability of the service becoming a reality," said Kyle Montgomery of Seattle2PT, who has commuted from Port Ludlow to Seattle for 11 years, in a statement last week.
Seattle2PT.org is a grassroots group that has collected more than 3,000 signatures in support of Port Townsend-Seattle passenger service.
The Port of Kingston has been awarded a $3.5 million federal grant for passenger ferry service and has requested $900,000 in state subsidies to reach break-even in four years. Michael Bookey, Kingston's port manager, said Tuesday that he hopes to offer Kingston-Seattle (Pier 50) roundtrips for $13.70, the cost of taking the Edmonds-Kingston ferry and then the train to downtown.
Bookey said his port is open to the idea of allowing its ferry, should it acquire one, to serve Port Townsend on weekends, but wants to see a business plan. "It's going to have to pay for itself," he said.
Port of Port Townsend Executive Director Larry Crockett said a lot of people have asked why his port is not trying to start a passenger ferry service. Crockett said the port is certainly open to all ideas, but unlike Kingston, PT does not have a large enough dock, fuel facility and other infrastructure - or the funding to build them. And, he said, he hasn't seen data showing there's a market for it yet.
(Contact Barney Burke at bburke@ptleader.com.)
Port Townsend Leader
www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=20120&TM=76680.67
Gov. Chris Gregoire gives the pen used to sign Senate Bill 6794 to Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen during the signing ceremony in Olympia on Feb. 14. The bill requires the construction of as many as three ferries for service on routes like Port Townsend-Keystone that require vessels with a car-carrying capacity of no more than 100 vehicles. – Submitted photo
State's quest for new ferries is under way
By Barney Burke, Leader Staff Writer
Ferry service here won't return to any semblance of "normal" for a couple of years, but Gov. Chris Gregoire on Feb. 14 signed legislation allocating $100 million for three ferries for the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
"This is an important first step towards fixing our neglected ferry system," said Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. "I'm looking forward to getting appropriate vessels onto the Keystone-Port Townsend run, as well as holding Washington State Ferries accountable for their operations and maintenance plans," said Haugen, who sponsored the bill.
The next day, Washington State Ferries called for bids for the construction of three ferries, the first of which is to be delivered in time for Mother's Day of 2009 - just in time for the closing of the Hood Canal Bridge for six weeks to replace its eastern span. Many more people come to the Olympic Peninsula via the bridge than by ferry.
The bids are to be awarded on the basis of the lowest cost for three ferries, although WSF has the option to build only one or two. The bid specifications are based on Steilacoom II, the 50-car Pierce County ferry currently leased for the PT-Keystone route.
Your ferry may vary
The legislation does not require a specific design as long as the capacity is no more than 100 vehicles. Both legislators and WSF officials have said the second and third new boats may be based on a different ferry, the Island Home.
Like Steilacoom II, Island Home was designed by the Elliott Bay Design Group of Seattle, but it's operated by the Massachusetts Steamship Authority. It's roughly the same size as the Steel Electrics, but carries about a dozen more vehicles.
After one to two feet of water washed over Steilacoom II's car deck during sea trials in Admiralty Inlet two weeks ago, Sen. Haugen and others expressed concern about having a vessel that can provide safe and reliable service during rough weather and tidal conditions.
"I think we used good judgment in drafting a bill that didn't lock us into a specific ferry design," said Haugen.
"The threshold for sailing will be less than it was with the Steel Electrics," said WSF Capt. Mark Haupt during a Feb. 8 demonstration ride on Steilacoom II. Docking during windy conditions will also be more difficult, he said.
Haugen's legislation includes funds to send Capt. Haupt, who was master of Klickitat and oversaw Steilacoom II's sea trials, to investigate Island Home in person.
Passenger-only ferries
Advocates of locally operated passenger ferry service have reason to be optimistic about another bill pending in the current legislative session.
House Bill 2730, which would allow port districts to offer passenger ferry service, is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Transportation Committee at 1:30 p.m. today, Feb. 20. The bill was previously approved by the House Transportation Committee and House Rules Committee.
The legislation would also make ports eligible for state capital and operating grants for passenger ferry service, and expands the qualified service areas to all of Puget Sound.
Public support for passenger-only ferries grew after WSF began a temporary Port Townsend-Seattle service in December to offset the sudden retirement of the Steel Electric ferries. The round-trip fare of $6.70 recovered only about 15 percent of operating costs, but boosters believe it demonstrated the potential to create a permanent service.
"[HB 2730] not only increases the possibility for passenger-only service from Port Townsend to Seattle, but it also increases the probability of the service becoming a reality," said Kyle Montgomery of Seattle2PT, who has commuted from Port Ludlow to Seattle for 11 years, in a statement last week.
Seattle2PT.org is a grassroots group that has collected more than 3,000 signatures in support of Port Townsend-Seattle passenger service.
The Port of Kingston has been awarded a $3.5 million federal grant for passenger ferry service and has requested $900,000 in state subsidies to reach break-even in four years. Michael Bookey, Kingston's port manager, said Tuesday that he hopes to offer Kingston-Seattle (Pier 50) roundtrips for $13.70, the cost of taking the Edmonds-Kingston ferry and then the train to downtown.
Bookey said his port is open to the idea of allowing its ferry, should it acquire one, to serve Port Townsend on weekends, but wants to see a business plan. "It's going to have to pay for itself," he said.
Port of Port Townsend Executive Director Larry Crockett said a lot of people have asked why his port is not trying to start a passenger ferry service. Crockett said the port is certainly open to all ideas, but unlike Kingston, PT does not have a large enough dock, fuel facility and other infrastructure - or the funding to build them. And, he said, he hasn't seen data showing there's a market for it yet.
(Contact Barney Burke at bburke@ptleader.com.)