March 12, 2008

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