PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Commissioner Phil Johnson became the first elected official to publicly speak out against bringing passenger ferry service to Port Townsend.
“I am not going to support a high speed ferry between Port Townsend and Seattle,” Johnson told fellow county Commissioner John Austin on Monday.
With the third county Commissioner David Sullivan attending a National Association of Counties conference in Washington, D.C., this week — and absent from Monday’s commissioners meeting — the two remaining commissioner discussed a consent agenda item that included signing and sending off county commissioners support letters to the North Olympic Peninsula’s three congressional leaders.
A memo to the commissioners from county Administrator Philip Morley states that Sullivan offered to hand-deliver a copy of the letter to the lawmakers when he was at the U.S. Capitol.
Johnson spoke out against the proposal, citing the high cost of fuel and his concern about “making Port Townsend a bedroom community” of Seattle.
Austin, who later said he was surprised by Johnson’s position and vigorously tried to sway him to change his mind, said he will send his own support letter to the congressional delegation.
Specifically, the letters would support a 2011 transportation appropriations request from the Port of Port Townsend, which is seeking at least $1 million through the office of U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Freeland.
Letters of support also would be sent to the offices of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Mountlake Terrace, and U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair, whose 6th Congressional District includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
Considering ferry purchase
The port commissioners are considering the purchase of a small passenger ferry from an Alaska owner and using it for scheduled commuter runs between Port Townsend and Seattle.
“If funding is approved, the [passenger-only ferry] will provide substantial economic and practical benefits to our community, including increased tourism and commerce, commuter access to Seattle for local residents with jobs in King County, and improved access to medical services and higher education opportunities for the citizens of Jefferson County,” a draft of the letter says.
Another passenger-ferry possibility — using the Port of Kingston’s newly purchased boat Spirit of Kingston on Saturdays and Sundays only between Port Townsend and Kingston — has been considered, but no plans have been formally discussed approved.
Tim Caldwell, Jefferson County Ferry Advisory Committee chairman and longtime Port Townsend-Seattle passenger ferry advocate, said he supports both the Port of Port Townsend and Port of Kingston’s proposals.
City of Port Townsend Marketing Director Christina Pivarnik has backed the Port of Port Townsend proposal, which would give local control of passenger ferry service.
She said she would support any ferry service that brought more visitors and business to Port Townsend.
Austin said a passenger ferry would actually reduce fuel consumption, taking motorists off the road.
“I don’t think it would make Port Townsend a bedroom community,” Austin argued, adding it would merely increase tourist traffic.
“I spent a lot of time on the water. I don’t know how you can push a boat without any serious amount of fuel,” Johnson said.
Contacted by phone in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Sullivan said he heard about the disagreement over passenger ferry support and planned to talk with Johnson and Austin about it upon his return Monday.
“We’ll talk about it. There’s still time,” Sullivan said.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.