BREMERTON – With state ferries system officials now projecting a mid-March date before a car ferry again plies the Port Townsend-Keystone route, city and Jefferson County officials pleaded Friday with U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks for help.
“We know that we’re going to need a boat and some mitigation funds for businesses,”. Port Townsend Deputy Mayor Michelle Sandoval told Dicks, D-Belfair, shortly after the Puget Sound Leadership Ferry Summit convened at the Norm Dicks Government Center in Bremerton.
“We’re totally isolated.”
The loss of vehicle ferry service since the 80-year-old Steel Electric ferries were pulled from service on Nov. 20 has dramatically slashed sales for many downtown Port Townsend retailers, restaurants and lodging establishments, the Port Townsend contingent said.
Dicks, who represents the 6th Congressional District, told Sandoval and county Commissioner David Sullivan, “We’re willing to look at all solutions.
“We’ll work with you on this.”
Traci Brewer Rogstad, Washington State Ferries deputy executive director, said ongoing work is revealing more hull corrosion in the Steel Electric ferry MV Quinault, which was originally slated to return to Port Townsend ferry terminal in early February.
“It’s going to be mid-March before we get the Quinault in the water,” Brewer Rogstad said.
Another Steel Electric ferry, MV Illahee, also has extensive corrosion.
“What they’re finding in the Illahee is not good,” Brewer Rogstad said at the summit Friday.
“It’s bad steel.”
