KINGSTON — The Port of Kingston will launch passenger ferry service between Kingston and downtown Seattle on Monday.
It will provide two morning and two afternoon commuter runs Monday through Friday, offering North Olympic Peninsula commuters a foot-ferry option from Kingston, which is on state Highway 104 across the Hood Canal Bridge, about one hour’s driving time from Port Townsend.
“We are doing trial runs today and tomorrow,” Eric Osnes, Port of Kingston ferry program manager, said Thursday.
“We’ve been working almost non-stop,” he added.
Osnes said that free trial runs will be offered Monday, with Tuesday being the first day fares are collected.
The trip to Seattle on the Port of Kingston Soundrunner service will take about 45 minutes.
The Port of Kingston has purchased two vessels for the ferry service: the Spirit of Kingston for $2.5 million from Four Seasons Marine Services of Silverdale, and the Victoria Express, for $650,000 from the Port Angeles company, Victoria Rapid Transit Inc., which offers passenger-only ferry service under the Victoria Express name from Port Angeles to Victoria and San Juan Island.
Both vessels have a capacity of up to 150 passengers and crew members.
The Spirit of Kingston, which will serve as the primary boat, is a 65-foot catamaran built in 2005 at All American Marine in Bellingham.
It has a cruising speed of 25 knots and a maximum speed of more than 30 knots.
The Victoria Express, the backup boat, is a 93-foot mono-hull vessel built in 1981 by Neuville Boat Works in New Iberia, La.
It has a cruising speed of 18 knots and a maximum speed of nearly 25 knots.
The Port of Kingston ferries will dock at Colman Dock in downtown Seattle, making connections with Metro Transit and shuttle buses.
The dock is within walking distance of the stadiums, downtown offices and Pikes Place Market.
The first run will leave Kingston at 5:55 a.m. and arrive in Seattle at 6:40 a.m., departing Seattle at 6:50 a.m. and arriving back in Kingston at 7:35 a.m.
The next run will leave Kingston at 7:40 a.m., arrive in Seattle at 8:25 a.m., leave Seattle at 8:35 a.m. and dock in Kingston at 9:20 a.m.
The afternoon run will leave Kingston at 4:20 p.m., arrive in Seattle at 5:05 p.m., leave Seattle at 5:15 p.m. and dock in Kingston at 6 p.m
The evening run will leave Kingston at 6:05 p.m., land in Seattle at 6:50 p.m., depart Seattle at 7 p.m. and dock in Kingston at 7:45 p.m.
“Unfortunately, the schedule doesn’t work for some people, but on the other hand it works for others,” Osnes said.
“Coming up with the schedule was a challenge. We have to work within boundaries of Vashon Island boat’s schedule as not to hinder their operation.”
Food and drinks, including beer and wine, will be served to passengers, and free wifi and HDTV also will be available.
Osnes said the Port of Kingston’s offer to provide weekend service between Port Townsend and Kingston is still open.
“We would like to work with PT to establish a weekend run for them,” he said, but the Kingston port has not been approached by Port Townsend leaders.
“I know they are pursuing their own boat, but we would be willing to work with them.”
Jim Pivarnik, Port of Port Townsend deputy director, said the port is on the “short list” for receiving a $1 million appropriation through Bothell Democratic Sen. Patty Murray’s office and has applied for another $1 million state Department of Transportation mobility grant.
That money could be used by the port to build its own boat, Pivarnik said.
“We could build a small, energy-efficient one,” he said, and the port has talked to three designers “who think it can be done for a little more than $1 million.”
Tim Caldwell, chairman of the Jefferson County Ferry Advisory Committee, said he was excited to see passenger ferry service return to a Kingston-Seattle run.
“It opens the doors of opportunity,” said Caldwell, who plans to be aboard the second Kingston-Seattle run of the day on Monday.
He said he would support the Port of Kingston’s offer of weekend service between Port Townsend and Seattle but “until we find what’s going on with the [Port of Port Townsend], we won’t know.”
The Port of Kingston vessel purchases were financed with a $3.5 million Federal Transportation Administration grant received about two years ago to establish regular runs from that port’s passenger dock on the waterfront in downtown Seattle.
The Port of Kingston also received $150,000 in support from the state Legislature, and has about $4 million saved for the venture.
The Port of Kingston commissioners learned from the failed 2005 attempt by private operator Aqua Express to provide Kingston-Seattle service, which shut down because expenses were too high.
The ferry service has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Soundrunner, where comments can be made.
Fares are $15 round trip for adults and $10 one way. Seniors who are 65 and older, and the disabled, ride for $7.50 round trip and $5 one way. Youths and students ages 6 to 18 ride for $10 round trip and $7.50 one way. Children 5 and younger ride free.
For information, see www.portofkingston.org/home.html or phone 360-297-3545.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
