The state Legislature has included funding for two 64-car ferries to be built for the Port Townsend-Keystone route in each of the proposed July 2009-July 2011 budgets released by the House of Representatives and Senate.
The proposed budgets, released last week, each include a second Island Homes class ferry built — in addition to the one under currently under construction — for the route, which has had reduced service since the 50-car Steilacoom II took it over from the larger, 80-year-old Steel Electric-class ferries that were pulled from service on Nov. 20, 2007.
The final state budget will be a hybrid of the two proposals, and there is still time for the construction of the second ferry to be eliminated in order to further deal with the state’s $9 billion budget shortfall for the next biennium.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to celebrate.
‘Quite happy’
“We’re quite happy that it looks like we are going to have other ferries for our route,” said Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval.
“What we’re happy about is that they are planning for the future.”
House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, said construction of the second ferry will begin after the one being built by Todd Pacific Shipyards of Seattle is finished, which is scheduled summer 2010.
The second ferry will take about 18 months to complete.
Kessler — who represents the 24th District, which includes Clallam, Jefferson and a portion of Grays Harbor counties — said each ferry will cost about $64 million.
“This is huge,” she said.
“We thought we were only going to get one. To get two, which was our dream, that is fabulous.”
This legislative session, lawmakers were considering two options for ferry service for the next 22 years that were presented by the state Department of Transportation in its draft long-range plan.
Plan A would maintain robust ferry service on all routes with improvements — and two boats for the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
Plan B would build only one ferry to cross Admiralty Inlet between Port Townsend and Whidbey Island, while cutting some services and bringing in county-augmented passenger ferry service.
Neither plan was funded.
As proposed by DOT, Plan A would create a $3.3 billion funding gap over the next 22 years, while Plan B would create a $1.3 billion deficit over the same time span.
“I think what they are doing is blending ‘Plan A’ and ‘Plan B,'” Sandoval said.
“It’s sort of an A- or a B+.”
Other ferries
Both the Senate and the House budgets include the two ferries for the Port Townsend-Keystone route and mention other ferries to be built.
The House budget says a third 64-car ferry will be built — which Kessler said would serve the south end of Vashon Island — and the Senate’s budget says a total of four will be built.
Any new ferries would be built within the state in order to comply with state law.
Kessler said two 144-car ferries will be built for the larger routes as well, according to the House budget.
Sandoval said the Port Townsend-Keystone route can’t have the larger 144-car ferries because the Keystone terminal on Whidbey Island is too shallow.
With such a tight budget, District 24 representative Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, said construction of new ferries has to compete with other major transportation projects.
“I imagine somebody lost something somewhere,” he said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
