PORT TOWNSEND — Tim Caldwell believes there is a chance a ferry running weekends between Port Townsend and Seattle still can set sail.
Last week, Caldwell, the former director of the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce, requested that the chamber allocate money that he secured during his tenure as director to match funds for a state grant looking to pay for access to a weekend passenger ferry in 2010.
Last Thursday, the chamber board approved the concept and authorized $15,000 to be earmarked as a funding source for such a ferry.
“The money was meant to be used for a passenger ferry between Port Townsend and Seattle when the Hood Canal Bridge was out,” Caldwell said.
“But because we got the Edmonds-to-Port Townsend passenger ferry, the money has sat there, waiting to be used.”
When Caldwell was the director, he collected the $15,000 for the chamber through a grant from Puget Sound Energy, the company for which he currently works as a manager.
Caldwell is now working with the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County’s Climate Action Committee to apply for a $150,000 Energy Efficiency Transportation Planning grant.
The grant would allow for design and implementation of 10 weekends of ferry service to “demonstrate economic, environmental and community benefits,” Caldwell said.
The deadline to apply for the grant is Oct. 26. Caldwell said he intends to continue discussing the matter with groups in the community as he prepares for the deadline.
A committee focusing on the grant meets Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Puget Sound Energy office conference room, 181 Quincy St., Port Townsend.
Use on weekends
Caldwell said the plan he has in mind would use the off days of a 149-passenger, high speed, passenger ferry about to be constructed for the Port of Kingston.
Kingston officials intend to use the ferry only during the weekdays for commuter traffic, Caldwell said.
“The Port of Kingston has $3 million in grant money to build the ferry,” he said.
“But they are looking for the weekday-only service.
“What we are looking for is a weekend excursion service where we could lease the boat from them and give them some weekend revenue.”
Caldwell said the ferry run would reduce carbon emissions by decreasing miles traveled in vehicles, create jobs and improve the viability of local businesses.
Seeks more support
But now, he is hoping for more support, such as the chamber showed with approval of $15,000 in matching funds.
“It’s spelled out in the application that if you have other partners with matching funds, it helps to score points toward getting the grant,” he said.
“And while it helps, I feel the application will stand on its own merit.”
Caldwell is hoping to see the city of Port Townsend approve advertising for the ferry in its 2010 budget, as a $25,000 match.
“Our logic to this would be that there is no exposure to the city, if they just added that there was weekend ferry access,” he said.
“They are marketing anyway, and by changing the language and adding on that the ferry is a way to get to Port Townsend, it could count as matching funds.”
No such plans
City Manager David Timmons said the Lodging Tax Advisory Board met Tuesday and had no plans to change the language on city advertising.
“It’s not in there, and it would have to be changed for the 2010 budget right now,” Timmons said.
“We can promote that you can get from here to there, but we can’t advertise private businesses or corporations.
“We can work with them, but we don’t have $25,000 to do it just for the ferry.”
Kris Nelson, president-elect of the chamber and a city council member, also balked at the idea by voting “no” during the chamber board’s decision.
“It was too hasty of a decision to commit those funds,” Nelson said.
“I want to see more details and more of a plan.
“With that said, the chamber board has decided to go with this and if it works it will be a wonderful thing for Port Townsend.
“If we really can get this grant, then we could see if this all pencils out.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.