PORT TOWNSEND — Even with the inability to support itself, the state ferry system has made significant progress as evidenced by next week’s inaugural sailing of the MV Salish, its top executive told county commissioners Monday.
A welcoming ceremony is planned for the Salish on June 30, with plans for it to begin Whidbey Island service in tandem with the MV Chetzemoka the following day.
“We are making a lot of progress in building new boats and refurbishing our existing fleet,” said ferries chief David Moseley at a meeting of the commissioners at the county courthouse.
“We are thrilled with the service the Chetzemoka has provided though the winter months, and we have seen ridership grow on the route just because it is a little bit larger boat than the Steilacoom II [which it replaced].
“We expect that ridership growth to continue as the new boat comes online.”
The June 30 welcoming ceremony begins at 11 a.m., and the public will be allowed to tour the Salish between
11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Service is scheduled to begin July 1, with boats leaving Port Townsend and Coupeville terminals every 45 minutes between the first sailing from Port Townsend at 6:30 a.m. to the last sailing from Coupeville at 9:15 p.m.
It will mark the first time that Port Townsend has had dual boats since 70-year-old Steel Electric class ferries were abruptly mothballed Thanksgiving week 2007 because of hull corrosion.
The four Steel Electrics have since been dismantled for scrap in Mexico.
Responding to a question from County Commissioner David Sullivan about providing later sailings so people from Whidbey Island could take advantage of Port Townsend nightlife, Moseley said peak times for the route were during the midday hours and it is most important to run two boats during those hours.
To expand service hours, it would be necessary for the state ferry agency to get funding for another crew, Moseley said.
Even though the ferry system escaped service cuts this year, Moseley could not paint a rosy picture for the future.
“We had a sense of apprehension at the beginning of the last legislative session,” he said.
“For the Legislature to achieve the no service cuts and fund the capital programs that we need, it transferred $142 million out of other transportation accounts onto the ferry system so we didn’t have to take the cuts.”
This won’t happen again, according to Moseley.
“There are no more Band-Aids in that box, because those accounts that have supported the ferries in the past are going into a deficit position,” he told the commissioners.
A transportation advisory group that will include legislators, business leaders and community leaders to examine the entire transportation system and make recommendations for the next legislative session will be formed, Moseley said.
“This is encouraging because it contains the chairs of the House and Senate transportation committees and the ranking minority members,” he said.
“So the opportunity for a bipartisan approach to transportation is very hopeful.”
Moseley said the transportation funding crisis began with the loss of the motor vehicle excise tax in 2000, and two subsequent transportation plans have not addressed the needs of the ferry system.
“This time we are assured that the new plan will address the ferries and I find that very encouraging,” he said.
Moseley was unaccompanied by any support staff during his address to the commissioners, which was part of a series of community meetings he’s making.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
