Navy developing plan to deal with reduced ferry service, Hood Canal Bridge closure
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
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So the reduction in ferry service to Whidbey Island as well as next year's six-week Hood Canal Bridge closure has the Navy concerned.
"We have a lot of folks on both sides who work on the other side," said Rear Adm. James Symonds, addressing more than 50 attending the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce weekly luncheon at Fort Worden State Park Commons.
"We have folks who travel from the Peninsula up to Whidbey almost every day."
The Navy's concern is not just the Port Townsend-Keystone ferry which connects Whidbey Island with the North Olympic Peninsula.
"It's the fleet in general," said Symonds.
New ferries on fast track
For this reason and others, he said he believes the state and Gov. Chris Gregoire have fast-tracked construction of two 60-car Island Home-class ferries for the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
The admiral said a Navy team was working out a transportation strategy during the May-June 2009 closure of Hood Canal Bridge to replace the floating span's east half.
Symonds said about 15,000 Navy vehicles cross the bridge in a year.
Cmdr. George Whitbred, skipper of Naval Magazine Indian Island, will be involved in the bridge closure transportation process, Symonds said.
Addressing audience question, Symonds said the Navy at Indian Island was in the process of cleaning up weapons containing depleted uranium, a longtime issue with many Port Townsend residents.
"Depleted uranium eventually will be banned," Symonds said.
"It's leaving the inventory as we speak."
David Jenkins, Olympic Peninsula Veterans for Peace president, asked Symonds when the Navy would release a risk assessment of Naval Magazine Indian Island.
Symonds said he did not know the answer, but he would look into the process to find out.
Rising fuel costs
Symonds said the Department of Defense was the biggest user of fuel in the country, so "every change in the price of fuel is going to affect our budget."
He said entitlement programs, such as Social Security, are putting pressure on how much Defense can spend on fuel.
During the Iraq war, Symonds said, taxpayers have learned that the military "is a tool of the government."
Winning the war will require a strong Navy, he said.
"We are fighting a long war against evil men," he told the chamber audience.
"We will win."
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Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: July 07. 2008 9:00PM