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New ferry plan a positive step, says Smith
Agency will
accelerate construction of two Island Home-style ferries
Rep. Norma Smith today said she was pleased with the Washington
State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) decision to move forward on
a new plan to accelerate the restoration of reliable and safe ferry
service on the Keystone-Port Townsend route.
WSDOT reached an agreement
with Pierce County that will allow the state to extend a lease on one of
the county’s ferries until new vessels can be built. The Steilacoom
II is scheduled to return to Pierce County in September 2008. A
similar vessel, the 50-car Christine Anderson, will serve the
Keystone–Port Townsend route until the first new Island Home-style
ferry is ready for service in the spring of 2010.
“This new agreement will allow state resources to be focused on the
long-term solution of designing and building the Island Home-style
ferries,” said Smith, R-Clinton. “With this step, I believe we
can end the delays and start to build the right boats with the right
features that meet the requirements of the challenging water conditions.
The Island Home-style boats will also better meet the needs of
families, businesses and Naval personnel who rely on this water highway
for their livelihoods.”
Smith, who serves on the House Transportation Committee and the Ferry
Review Phase II Study Group, said she remains adamant the state keep its
promise to move forward with a plan that puts in place boats that can
handle the current and future capacity needs of the region.
"It is clear the
Steilacoom Two is not the right boat for the water conditions and does
not have the capacity to meet the needs of our communities now, or in
the future," said Smith. "I'm hopeful this agreement will end the
stalling and delays. The citizens who rely on this water highway want
assurances that the state is committed to getting the boat-building
started and finished in a timely manner. This agreement is a step in the
right direction, but I remain committed to making sure this promise is
kept and our citizens are adequately served."
Today’s announcement is different from a prior plan to build a smaller,
Steilacoom II-style ferry. The initial plan was to build one
Steilacoom II-style ferry to provide uninterrupted car service for
the short-term, and build two Island Home-style ferries as a
long-term plan. The Steilacoom II would have then been used as an
emergency backup in the state ferry system.
Smith supported the 2008 supplemental transportation budget which
included $84.5 million to build replacement vessels for the
Keystone–Port Townsend route, and
$283.2 million to continue work on the previously-approved 144-car
vessels.
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer:
(360) 786-7252
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