A federal bill introduced Wednesday could eventually enrich the Washington State Ferries coffers, but won’t have any effect on the two boats already in the works for the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
The bill introduced Sens. Patty Murray, D-Freeland, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, would nearly triple ferry spending, from $67 million annually to $200 million a year between 2010 and 2015.
Washington state has the largest ferry system in the country, with more than 25 million riders a year. Alaska’s Marine Highway system serves 30 communities along routes totaling more than 3,000 miles.
If passed, the bill — which is separate from the federal economic stimulus package — could raise federal funding for the state’s ferry system from $5 million to $40.7 million per year with additional funding available in a grant structure.
Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens, introduced a companion bill in the House. Larsen, a member of the House Transportation Committee, said the federal government currently invests less than 1 percent of federal surface transportation dollars in ferries.
More money is needed to help ferry systems across the country replace aging vessels and meet growing demand, he said.
Vote likely in 2010
Murray and Larsen said that any bump in funding would be a long way off.
“This depends on the timing of the entire nation’s passing of a transportation bill,” Murray said.
“Knowing the full plate we have, this might not happen until next year.”
As proposed, half of the $200 million in the bill would be divided among states with the largest ferry systems. The other half would be competitively available to states through grants.
David Moseley, head of Washington State Ferries, said funding for the Port Townsend run is a separate issue.
The state Legislature has funded two 64-car ferries to be built for the Port Townsend-Keystone route in the next biennium. The legislation awaits Gov. Chris Gregoire’s signature.
But the state still has long-term goals.
“For cash-strapped states like Washington, this means we can make some long-term plans,” Murray said.
“Having it distributed according to a formula looking at route miles is beneficial to Washington state.”
Moseley, who said that Washington state has the largest ferry system in the nation, added that currently the state receives $5 million each year in federal money for the ferry system.
“These are much-need federal funds,” he said.
“They will go a long way to providing service for our ferry riders.”
Said Murray: “In Washington state, we are very lucky to have a world-class ferry system that millions of riders depend on every year.”
“But it’s not always easy convincing some of our colleagues back here in the other Washington of the importance of a robust ferry system,” she added.
“They understand investments in roads, highways and in rail. But many don’t realize that for many states, ferries are a crucial link in the transportation chain. And for many Americans, ferries are the only means of travel to jobs, hospitals or places of commerce.”
Larsen said improvements to ferry terminals in Anacortes and Mukilteo are at the top of the list in terms of long-term projects.
Murray said the bill would boost a transportation network that provides a crucial lifeline for millions of commuters.
Ferries are used in 38 states, and more than 100 million passenger trips are taken each year on ferry systems nationwide.
Ferries also provide emergency evacuation in times of crisis, Murray said, citing the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and the collapse of the San Francisco Bay Bridge.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
