PORT TOWNSEND — The construction of a “marine highway” that would transport tractor trailers by barge from Bellingham to Port Townsend will be pursued by the Port of Port Townsend as soon as the right grant opportunities are available.
Port staff had considered applying for a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery — or TIGER — grant, but it would take about 40 hours of staff time to prepare a grant proposal that could be unsuccessful, according to material presented at a port commission meeting Wednesday night.
“This grant is really competitive,” said planning analyst Eric Toews.
“The best chance we have to get a grant is with a shovel-ready project where everything is ready to go and the permits are in place, and that isn’t true here.”
The project would at first be directed toward the needs of the Port Townsend Paper Corp. mill, which handles traffic from about 100 semitrucks a week.
Staff members had said the concept had been discussed with mill officials for the past two years and that the port could assist the project by being a government sponsor.
The project would include a barge traveling between the two points that could carry 25 trailers at a time and would have a tractor on each side to load and unload the cargo.
The primary connection for the project would be the Bellingham Colony Wharf but could eventually include Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia, according to a document prepared by port staff for the commissioners.
The estimated cost of the project is $750,000, though Larry Crockett, port director, said $1 million is a more realistic number.
The project was described as a “green” initiative that would save energy and reduce emissions.
The barge would make two trips to Bellingham and one trip to Seattle per week, which would translate to avoiding 7,800 truck crossings of the Hood Canal Bridge per year, according to the port staff’s document.
Port Deputy Director Jim Pivarnik said the port would use grant money to enlarge the trailer storage facility and upgrade the dock, which is on paper mill property.
Pivarnik said the trucks would all service the mill and that the paper mill would need to approve any uses other than those in an emergency.
“Emergency use is what makes this a worthwhile investment for the port,” he said.
“If something happens to the Hood Canal Bridge or [U.S. Highway] 101, we’ll be cut off here.”
Pivarnik said the port will spend the next few months securing permits and promoting the idea with local agencies.
“We want to make sure the county is on board with the project,” he said.
“We are looking for funding sources, but the TIGER grant wasn’t a good fit.”
Port Townsend Paper mill officials declined to comment about the project and instructed its consultant, Patrick Cohn, not to provide details of the proposed operation.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.