PORT TOWNSEND – Those who rode the 149-passenger MV Snohomish passenger ferry between Port Townsend and Keystone on Monday’s first full day of operation had a lot of leg room.
The busiest run served 33 people on their way to Whidbey Island, said Carol Jorgenson, Washington State Ferries Port Townsend-Keystone route supervisor.
At the low end, nine riders took the high-speed ferry on Monday.
About a dozen climbed aboard at Port Townsend for the ferry’s inaugural ride on Sunday afternoon.
“I think if we’re consistent, the amount of passengers is going to grow,” Jorgenson said.
A one-way run takes about 15 minutes on the high-speed passenger ferry, which has a capacity of 350 riders but is rated for only 149 on the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
The Steel Electric vehicle ferries, which served the route before being pulled from service a week ago, made the trip in 25 minutes.
State Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond made the decision to pull the four Steel Electric ferries when an inspection on one of the 80-year-old vessels – the Quinalt – revealed significant hull pitting along the keel.
It was felt that all four Steel Electrics probably had similar problems.
Two of the aging boats had already been out of service. The Ilahee, which was serving the San Juan Islands, and the Klickitat, on the Port Townsend-Keystone run, were pulled from service.
“I know that life without the Steel Electrics is difficult, but we must ask for continued patience as we work to resume vehicle ferry service between Port Townsend and Keystone in the months ahead,” Hammond said in a prepared statement Monday.
Molly Henessy of Coupville, boarded the ferry in Port Townsend on Monday afternoon for a return trip to Whidbey Island.
She had parked her car at the Keystone terminal.
She said she often rides the ferry between Port Townsend and Keystone, and walking on is nothing new for her.
The dearth of passengers surprised her.
“It was pretty empty,” she said of her ride earlier from Keystone to Port Townsend.
Harris said an Island Transit manager was on hand at the Keystone ferry terminal every time the ferry came in on Monday to help people with transferring to buses.
“It looks like it will work out pretty well,” Harris said of the ferry-bus schedule coordination.
Dave Turissini, Jefferson Transit general manager, said Monday went smoothly for those who rode the ferry from Whidbey Island to Port Townsend and caught a bus, which run from the Port Townsend terminal every 20 minutes.
He noted that most of the demand for buses takes place on Whidbey Island.
