Lawmakers favor future Port Townsend-Seattle ferry route - if the money works out
Ridership aboard the MV Snohomish state passenger ferry from Port Townsend to Seattle has been steadily climbing. -- Photo by Jeff Chew/Peninsula Daily News
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
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At the same time, Washington State Ferries says the route can't support itself, no matter how popular it is.
Reps. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, and Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, said they are encouraged by the efforts of a grass-roots group of commuters to Seattle who want the ferry MV Snohomish, or some other passenger ferry service, to continue operations between the Emerald and Key cities.
The group - led by Kyle Montgomery, a Port Ludlow resident and longtime commuter to Seattle via the Bainbridge ferry - has gathered more than 1,000 signatures online at Seattle2PT.com in the past week.
"I think that's our great hope, is to put on the pressure," Kessler said Wednesday.
"If it turns out that there is enough support and it pencils out, then I think it would be fabulous.
Both Kessler and Van De Wege said that cost is the issue.
"I fully support it," said Van De Wege.
"Whether or not it's possible, that's yet to be seen."
House Majority Leader Kessler and Van De Wege expect to take up ferry issues when the state Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 14.
The two represent the 24th District, which covers Jefferson and Clallam counties and a portion of Grays Harbor County.
Gov. Chris Gregoire has proposed a $100 million budget to build three new ferries within the next 18 months to serve the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
But the state plans to stop the four daily Port Townsend-Seattle runs - which began on Dec. 13 for the holiday shopping season - on Jan. 6.
Can't support itself
The state ferries system officials say that the passenger ferry Snohomish costs $13,700 a day to operate, $8,000 of which is fuel.
Passengers pay $6.70 each for a round trip.
Even if the ferry - which is permitted to carry 149 passengers at one time - runs full for its four daily round trips, that amounts to about $4,000.
"It's basically the numbers don't add up," said Hadley Greene, communication manager for the state ferries system.
"We would have to raise the fare."
The passenger-only Snohomish was pulled into service on Nov. 25, after state Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond on Nov. 20 idled the four vehicle Steel Electric ferries serving the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
The Steel Electrics were the only vehicle ferries within the state system that could navigate the narrow, shallow Keystone harbor.
On Dec. 13, the Snohomish was moved to the Port Townsend-Seattle route while Puget Sound Express, a Port Townsend business, took over the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
A state-rented 54-car ferry from Pierce County will take over the Port Townsend-Keystone route sometime in January or February.
Demand high
Demand for a ferry between Port Townsend and Seattle has been high.
In the three days preceding Christmas Day, more than 600 passengers were moved back and forth.
On the ferry's busiest run, which was on Friday, 818 passengers used it.
Montgomery said the lobbying effort is fully in support of the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce's effort - led by chamber General Manager Tim Caldwell - to promote passenger ferry service to Seattle.
Montgomery said he wants to establish petition-signing stations in Clallam County, which he feels would also benefit from a passenger-ferry gateway to Seattle from Port Townsend.
"We want to be the voice of Clallam County as well," he said.
Washington State University Team Jefferson, a community and economic development team, has given Seattle2PT.com its endorsement for the information gathering efforts.
Visit the site to sign the petition.
E-mail can be sent to the site at info@seattle2pt.com.
Montgomery can be reached by phone at 360-643-0566.
For those without Web access, "sign stations" are being placed at retail businesses in Jefferson County to gather signatures.
The stations will be available through Jan. 6 at:
The Bayview Restaurant, 1539 Water St.; Badd Habit, 1005 Lawrence St.; Evergreen Fitness, 22 Tahlequah Road; Earthenworks, 702 Water St., Grounds For Perfection, 1121 Water St.; Dame Agatha Twigg's Tea Room, 100 Tyler St., Posh Salon, 1025 Water St.; and the Boiler Room, 711 Water St. in Port Townsend.
Montgomery plans to present the petition and signatures to state leaders.
The passenger-ferry issue is expected to be discussed among other ferry transportation issues at a Port Townsend-Keystone Ferry Partnership group meeting at 10:15 a.m. Jan. 10.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: December 26. 2007 9:00PM