PORT TOWNSEND — Washington State Ferries is trying to increase the capacity of cars at its ferry landing — from 100 spaces now to about 190 in four years.
But residents at a Washington State Ferries public meeting Tuesday night were mostly concerned with increased traffic on Sims Way leading to the terminal.
The $36 million terminal expansion project seeks to extend the pier and widen the approach to accommodate the additional vehicles by 2010.
“It’s basically to react to long-term population growth,” said Washington State Ferries project manager Doug Playter.
“More growth means more cars.”
Of the 50 residents at the public meeting at The Commons at Fort Worden State Park, the resounding sentiment was that the community didn’t want to see a gridlocked Sims Way when larger ferries offload passengers from Whidbey Island.
“My concern is whatever Washington State Ferries does doesn’t detract from our community,” said Port Townsend City Councilman Scott Walker, who attended the meeting.
“It’s not ideal if we’re just running as many cars as we can get through.”
‘Huge bottleneck’
“There’s already a huge bottleneck,” added City Councilwoman Michelle Sandoval.
State Ferries Planning Director Raymond Deardorf responded by saying the agency is responsible for keeping up with increased ferry traffic.
“If traffic demands increase, it is the expectation that the ferry system will accommodate that,” said Deardorf.
Several members of the audience thought moving the terminal out of town — perhaps near Old Fort Townsend State Park two miles outside Port Townsend off state Highway 20 — was the best idea.
This would remove the strain on downtown Port Townsend from ferry traffic, they said.
