PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Ferry Advisory Committee’s chairman sees a golden opportunity if Washington State Ferries decides to build just one car ferry for the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
The extra $20 million could be used for Port Townsend passenger-only ferry infrastructure, said Tim Caldwell, who also serves on the Port Townsend-Keystone Ferry Partnership Group, a panel of community leaders from both sides of the ferry route.
“The reaction to using passenger ferry service has always been seen as a positive result,” he said.
“This would be a very, very attractive option.”
The state ferries system opened a bid last Thursday from Todd Pacific Shipyards of Seattle that totaled $124.4 for two 64-car Island Home-style ferries to serve the Port Townsend-Keystone route.
The bid was $40 million over the state’s budget of $84.5 million.
Todd’s proposed bid price is $124,450,559 for two vessels and $65,487,328 for one vessel.
A state Department of Transportation engineer’s estimate was $95,943,865 for two vessels and $49,452,894 for one.
Caldwell said he is doubtful that state ferries officials will award a contract before early next year.
Hadley Greene, ferry system spokeswoman, said that on Tuesday morning, David Moseley, deputy transportation secretary for the state Department of Transportation’s ferries division said, “It will be a few weeks before we have a decision.”
“We are still evaluating bids and evaluating all options,” Green added.
Hearing that, Caldwell said, “If we’re out a few more weeks, we’re definitely a long way from the preferred option.”
While Caldwell has long promoted passenger ferry service to Port Townsend, at least to benefit weekend tourists, he said new developments make it even more feasible.
“If we go with one [car ferry], and have $20 million to use for another option, you could do an awful lot of marine infrastructure” for passenger ferry service, he said.
He talked about the use of the Snohomish passenger ferry used between Port Townsend and Seattle last holiday season after state Department of Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond pulled the Steel Electric ferries from the Port Townsend-Keystone route, declaring them unsafe.
He said it keeps adding to the question of what do on Aug. 9, 2009, when the state’s lease of the Steilacoom II ends, and the route is again without adequate car ferry service.
As proposed, an Island Home-model ferry would not be built until spring 2010.
‘Stuck with Todd’
Meanwhile, Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, said that, with only one bid, it appears “We’re probably stuck with Todd.”
Kessler represents the 24th District, which includes Jefferson, Clallam and Grays Harbor counties.
She repeated her comments last week, saying state ferries has “got to move fast one way or another as soon as possible.”
Kessler also cited a recent column written by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, for The Herald of Everett, voicing support for building ferries in-state rather than considering going out of state to find a less-expensive option.
“I just feel we have to have our ferries,” said Kessler, House majority leader, who last week shed doubt on the Legislature’s ability to come up with more money to meet the Todd bid for two Island Home ferries.
Kessler said she supports building in-state as well as considering other building options to come closer to budget.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
