PORT TOWNSEND — Legislators from Whidbey Island vow to fight to keep the MV Salish on the route between the two terminals.
Reassignment of the Salish, which had been promised to be added as a second state ferry on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route in the spring, to the San Juan Islands is suggested as a cost-saving measure in the proposed budget submitted by Gov. Chris Gregoire on Tuesday.
The idea — first broached as one of several from Washington State Ferries for cutting $17 million from its budget — will be among potential cost savings the state Legislature will consider after it convenes Jan. 10.
Both Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, and Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, who serve as respective chairs of their chambers’ transportation committees, have said they are not convinced that the Salish must be lost to the route.
“I will not support moving the Salish to the San Juan Islands unless I am convinced there are no other options,” Clibborn said Thursday.
“I do not believe that is true right now.”
During the Nov. 14 inaugural sailing of the MV Chetzemoka — the sister ferry to the Salish that is now under construction — Haugen all but promised that the Salish will not be relocated.
Clibborn said it was important for the state Legislature to follow through on the “promise” it made to provide the route with a second boat, something it has not had since the Steel Electrics were taken out of service three years ago.
“The people on this route have already made huge sacrifices,” Clibborn said.
“They have worked with us to solve this problem and have been very patient.”
In Port Townsend, Mayor Michelle Sandoval has expressed disappointment over the idea of losing a second ferry but has said she understands the economic conditions behind the proposal.
Port Townsend Ferry Advisory Board Chair Tim Caldwell voiced pessimism about getting the Salish.
“The governor’s budget has cut a lot of social services,” he said.
“With those cuts, it’s hard to argue that Port Townsend’s second boat is more important than the social programs.”
During a Port Townsend meeting earlier this month, David Moseley, state ferries chief, said that service cuts would be necessary and that the second ferry boat promised for the Port Townsend-Coupeville run might not arrive as scheduled — or at all.
In a handout used at a series of community meetings that ended Thursday, Moseley outlined service cuts that add up to $14 million.
All but one of them requires cutting back sailings or reducing capacity — except on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route, which stands to lose an entire boat.
State officials say Washington State Ferries has a $180 million deficit in its operating budget over the next 10 years and an $865 million shortfall in its capital program.
Port Townsend was anticipating the delivery of the Salish during the first part of 2011, which would bring the route to full strength for the first time in three years, but the reallocation proposal was floated even before the Chetzemoka was christened Nov. 14.
“These cuts are only suggestions,” said Marta Coursey, state ferries system spokeswoman.
“The Legislature will have the final say.”
Clibborn said that passengers using the route should not lose hope that the Salish will arrive as planned.
“Everyone needs to stay tuned,” she said.
“They should be very pleased that Sen. Haugen is from that district because she is pretty adamant that the Salish stays put.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
