PORT TOWNSEND – A ferry reservation pilot program in Port Townsend is more than a year away from launch, those promoting and planning the project say.
“We want the pilot project to work,” said Tim Caldwell, Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce general manager, adding that starting up the program this summer did not allow enough turnaround time.
Caldwell is working with Deputy Mayor Michelle Sandoval, City Manager David Timmons, Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conyers and Washington State Ferries officials to refine the reservation system for the ferry system considered an economic lifeline for Jefferson and Clallam counties.
“Now we’ve got time to plan for it and find supplemental budget for it,” Caldwell said after the group met Monday.
The state Transportation Commission last Wednesday approved a 2.5 percent ferry fare increase, but rejected $10 and $20 ferry reservation fees for the Port Townsend-Keystone pilot project.
Many residents objected to the fee before transportation commissioners attending a recent Port Townsend ferry system forum. They said it was too much to tack onto a fare increase and favored the wealthy.
The fare increase would go into effect May 1, and mean an increase from $8.70 to $8.90 full fare and $10.90 to $11.15 peak season for the Port Townsend-Keystone run.
