PORT TOWNSEND — While some lawmakers are reluctant to commit to a design for three new 54-car ferries for the Port Townsend-Keystone route until the Steilacoom II is deemed safe, state Rep. Lynn Kessler has greater reservations about further delays.
“I can understand that we need to make sure they are safe because of waters across Admiralty Inlet,” said Kessler, D-Hoquiam and House majority leader, Thursday.
“But the longer we put this off, the more in jeopardy the community is. Our economy is already hurting over in Jefferson County and the summer is coming up.”
Kessler also said that state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond soon will hire a new director of Washington State Ferries.
Steve Reinmuth, chief of staff at the state Department of Transportation, is now the acting state ferries system executive director.
Kessler said that state lawmakers were considering “imploding” and “breaking up” the state ferries agency.
“I think it will be sort of a shake up,” she said.
