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Statements from Reps.
Barbara Bailey and Norma Smith on passage of supplemental
transportation budget
Plan includes $85 million to build up to three
boats for Keystone - Port Townsend route, again delays
timeline on 144-car ferries until 2011
The state supplemental
transportation budget cleared its final hurdle today. After days of
compromise, the road repair and upgrade funds were adjusted, and
$85 million for the Keystone - Port Townsend ferry replacement was left in
the budget.
Reps.
Barbara Bailey and Norma Smith
voted in favor of the legislation.
Rep.
Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor
"My number one priority
this legislative session is to restore our Keystone - Port Townsend run.
This transportation budget takes us a step closer to this goal. It's
important to remember that promises were made for our ferries in 2003
and they were not kept. This time, the governor and her Department of
Transportation must deliver. We must also monitor our ferry funding
because
recent projections suggest our state does not have enough money to build
all the boats needed to keep our system viable. It's essential we keep our
marine highways open to accommodate commuters, tourists, businesses,
military, and the demands of future growth."
Rep.
Norma Smith, R-Clinton
"My highest priority
when I began my work in the Legislature was to address the ferry crisis.
This budget gets us part of the way, but we have more work to do. I'm pleased funding was included to begin the process
of restoring service on the Keystone to Port Townsend route,
but I will continue to work to make sure the funds are spent on the
right boats with the right capacity and safety needs for our
communities. This budget, while a good start, may not include adequate
funding to build three ferries for the Keystone route. Couple this with
the delay on delivery of the 144-car ferries, and it's clear that
Olympia must start looking at prioritizing funding so it goes to the
most critical infrastructure first. I supported this start, but if
government is going to earn the public's trust, it must show unwavering
leadership and put the most urgent needs at the top of the list and
create a financing plan that truly addresses the pressing safety needs of our state
highways."
Smith was appointed to
serve on the Ferry Review Phase II Study Group over the 2008 interim.
The group will look at the vessel options and what features are needed
to best serve the community and the safety needs for the Keystone-Port
Townsend route.
Ferry budget fast
facts:
The budget reduces 8.5
full-time employees in the ferry system operating and capital
programs. Along with a reduction in the use of consultants, these
savings are expected to save $4.9 million in 2008. A total of six new
ferry boats are planned for in the transportation budget - three for
Keystone - Port Townsend, and three new 144-car vessels.
Steel Electric
Ferry Replacement
The budget includes $85 million to
construct three new vessels for the Keystone - Port Townsend route. One
boat is a “Pierce County style” Steilacoom II and two new boats are
based on the “Island Home” design from Massachusetts. The budget also
directs Washington State Ferries to sell or dispose of the four Steel
Electric boats by June 1, 2008.
New 144-car
Replacement Vessels
The budget assumes construction of “up to three” 144-car boats
instead of the original plan to build four of these boats,
pending the outcome of boat design due in July. There may not be enough funding to
build three 144-car boats and the schedule has been delayed by another
year to 2011, three years after the original delivery date.
Additional Runs on Keystone
- Port Townsend
The budget includes $357,000 to pay for two additional trips per day
on the Port Townsend - Keystone run during a 16-week period from May 19 –
Sept. 8.
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer:
(360) 786-7252
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