KINGSTON — Long sought by commuters in Jefferson and Kitsap counties, a passenger-only ferry between Kingston and Seattle has been approved by state regulators.
The application by Aqua Express, a private ferry company, was approved Friday by the state Utilities and Transportation Commission.
“It’s great — we’re very, very excited,” said Darrell Bryan, a partner in Aqua Express. He added that company will work quickly to get the remaining environmental permits it needs so service can begin Oct. 1.
It would be the first direct connection between Kingston and Seattle in decades.
The ferry would operate Monday through Friday during morning and evening commute hours and take about 40 minutes to complete the journey from the fishing pier at Kingston to the Argosy Cruises dock Pier 56 in downtown Seattle.
‘Lot of happy people’
Aqua Express needs permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Fisheries before it can begin ferry service.
Reaction to the news was overwhelmingly positive, especially from commuters who say the 40-minute ride will shave countless hours wasted going to and from work in Seattle.
“There’s a lot of happy people. As a whole, the Kingston community is really looking forward to it,” said Walt Elliott, a member of the Kingston Citizens Advisory Committee.
