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Editor's note:
The representatives' letter to
the governor is attached.
Reps. Smith, Bailey urge governor to build 'right
boats' for Keystone-Port Townsend ferry run
Downsizing the Island Home ferries is not
forward-thinking, they say
With the recent
announcement that Washington State Ferries (WSF) plans to build the new
Island Home ferries smaller than the original design, today
Reps. Norma Smith and
Barbara
Bailey objected to the plan in a letter to the governor.
The original design of the
Island Home ferries has a 74-car capacity, but the scaled down
boat design WSF is advocating would only have a 60- to 64-car capacity.
Both 10th District legislators say this decision is short-sighted, and
will end up costing the state much more money when they have to retrofit
the vessels to meet future demand.
"On the Keystone to
Port Townsend run we're expecting a
fifty-one percent increase in ferry traffic over the next twenty years.
This plan to lessen the boat capacity doesn't look to the future needs
of our ferry commuters and communities reliant on this marine highway,"
said Smith, R-Clinton. "In our letter to the governor,
we stressed that
the state cannot continue to cut corners today to the detriment of the future.
We need a long-term solution that not only meets today's needs, but has
enough capacity for future population growth."
"I have always advocated
for building the right boat to ensure we spend taxpayer dollars wisely
on a long-term solution for the Keystone to Port Townsend route. The
decision to build the Island Home ferries is encouraging, however if we
scale back the capacity, we will no longer have the right boat to meet
our future needs," said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. "This boat
is expected to last sixty years, so we must have enough vessel capacity
to accommodate new demand. I am urging the governor to step in and
direct the Department of Transportation to build the larger boats to
serve our communities for the long-term."
This year's supplemental
transportation budget included $85 million to construct up to three new
vessels for the Keystone-Port Townsend route. The funds would have
purchased one “Pierce County-style” Steilacoom II, but due to
capacity and reliability issues with the Steilacoom II, WSF
agreed to build two Island Home style ferries to serve the
route. The budget also directs WSF to sell or dispose of the four
out-of-service Steel Electric boats by June 1, 2008.
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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