PORT TOWNSEND — The Port of Port Townsend has developed a schedule for the preparation and development of a passenger ferry service between Seattle and Port Townsend.
“We need to move on this very quickly,” Port Director Larry Crockett told port commissioners Wednesday night as they discussed the ferry.
“We have received this grant, and if we don’t accept it, we will never get any federal money again.”
The first step is a meeting Monday between port staff and representatives of the state Department of Transportation, which will administer the
$1.3 million federal grant.
Only one port commissioner, Lief Erickson, will attend that meeting, since a meeting of more than one commissioner would have to be advertised as a public meeting, Crockett said.
The grant is only for construction of the boat, which port officials hope will take place at least partially in its own boat yard.
Operating expenses are not included in the grant, and the port expects to bid the service contract out to a private corporation.
The port will need to put that service out for bid, and a second bid process will be for construction of the vessel.
Commissioner John Collins suggested the port might want to develop a business plan for the operation of the vessel prior to the bid, but Crockett said the business plan should be part of the bid and will be part of the selection.
The port plans to put out the service bid first, then open the bid for the boat’s construction, which will be built to the service contractor’s requirements.
The entire process, which includes the selection of a naval architect, design and construction of the vessel, and sea trials must be finished by the summer of 2013 or the port will not be reimbursed for the construction of the vessel, Crockett said.
The first and most important step will be the scheduling of public meetings, since the project must be built to the specifications of what the people want, Crockett said.
“Early next week, we will need to schedule meetings with the city, the county, the Chamber of Commerce and all other stakeholders in order to get their input,” Crockett said.
“We also will need to schedule open public meetings where anyone can tell us what they want from the service.
“We will need to wrap all this up by Thanksgiving.”
Crockett said he has already received eight or nine emails about the project that have been “mostly positive” but with some concerns.
One email called it a “boondoggle,” while a few others said they did not want the service to turn Port Townsend into a “bedroom community” that serves Seattle.
Deputy Director Jim Pivarnik said that scenario is unlikely with the current plans, since the first available docking is now 10 a.m., which makes it impractical for anyone who needs to be in Seattle during normal business hours.
Pivarnik said the single boat would make it unlikely that the service would operate on a daily basis year-round, since it would need to be taken offline for service and repairs.
The initial plan is to run the service once or twice a day with a 49-passenger capacity, since a greater amount would require a larger crew and cost more to operate.
The one-way fare would be $20 or $25, and the boat would be “no frills.”
“We have had some suggestions that the boat should have public art, but it’s not going to be that kind of boat,” Crockett said.
The port has already had to reconsider some of the “frills” that it has sought to omit, such as Wi-Fi and coffee service.
“I think leaving Wi-Fi off the boat would be a mistake,” said Forest Shomer during the comment period.
“Wireless is how people work, and it will be a requirement for many passengers.”
Shomer said a full-blown latte stand isn’t needed, but some type of small coffee service would be necessary.
The 49-passenger limit could also be reconsidered if it was determined the demand was greater, Crockett said.
One potential market is transportation to the airport, since the boat dock is only a few blocks from light rail.
“This connection to the airport could be very attractive for people who now drive to the airport and park their cars,” he said.
“It could save them the cost of gas and parking and would be more convenient for travelers.”
During the public comment period, Port Townsend Marketing Director Christina Pivarnik said the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau was “extremely excited” about the Port Townsend-Seattle connection, and the cruise ship market could also supply a steady stream of tourists and visitors.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
