Washington State Ferries

State lawmakers looking at cost of Washington ferries

The Associated Press — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:20:09 +0000

State lawmakers may reconsider the law that requires new ferries to be built in Washington.

An audit suggested ferries could be built cheaper at shipyards out of state.

The Daily Herald reports the audit is the subject of a legislative hearing Wednesday in Olympia. The audit cost $1.2 million and took a year to complete.

Coast Guard says add crew to Washington ferries

The Associated Press — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:28:48 +0000

EVERETT, Wash. — Washington State Ferries chief David Mosely says the agency will have to hire nine to 12 employees to comply with a Coast Guard order to increase staffing for safety.

The Coast Guard sent a letter to the state Friday ordering revised staffing by the end of November.

Mosely told The Daily Herald (http://is.gd/pOfWVY) he's not sure how much the revised staffing will cost, but it's more than the ferry system has in its budget.

Smoke evacuates Seattle water taxi

The Associated Press — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:03:41 +0000

Smoke from the engine room forced the Seattle water taxi to return to its dock at West Seattle.

Fire Department spokesman Kyle Moore says it had a large response before 8 a.m. Friday because of the reported boat fire.

Kingston reconsiders Seattle foot ferry; fares for all rise in May

The Associated Press — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:10:29 +0000

KINGSTON, Wash. — The Kingston-Seattle foot ferry has attracted far fewer passengers than the Port of Kingston expected when the service started in October 2010, and it's future is in doubt.

Contract signed for new Washington state ferry

The Associated Press — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:45:15 +0000

The Washington state Ferries Division signed a contract Tuesday with Vigor Industrial for a 144-car ferry to be built at the US Fab shipyard, formerly the Todd shipyard, in Seattle.

Dog handler plays high profile role in post 9/11 Northwest

Austin Jenkins — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:39:36 +0000

Reflections from someone who plays one of the more visible security roles in the post-9/11 Northwest:

"My name is Sgt. Kerry Kintzley. I'm a Sergeant with the Washington State Patrol. I work at the Washington State ferry system screening vehicles prior to their boarding. Sissy ... is a four-year-old Lab Vizsla mix trained to detect explosives.

New ferry Salish may sail Friday

The Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:47:10 +0000

Washington State Ferries hopes to put its newest 64-car vessel, the Salish, into service on Friday.

Spokeswoman Marta Coursey said a problem discovered Monday with a backup generator threatened to delay plans to put the boat to work on the busy Fourth of July weekend, but they’re working on it.

The Salish begins sea trials

Dave Meyer — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:23:33 +0000

You may see a new Washington State Ferry on Puget Sound waters this week. The Salish is being put through its sea trials. The vessel, built by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, is expected to begin service this summer on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route. The run has gone without full two-boat service since 2007.

House transportation budget proposes leaner service cuts, smaller rate hikes for ferry riders

The Associated Press — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:22:04 +0000

House lawmakers have released their proposed 2011-2013 transportation budget, and it includes less service cuts and a smaller rate hike to Washington's ferry system than Gov. Chris Gregoire's earlier bid.

The House proposal cuts ferry services by $3.1 million, compared to Gregoire's $20 million reduction in her December budget. Gregoire also had proposed a rate hike of 10%. The House proposal puts it at 7.5% in 2011 and 2.5% in 2012.

State passenger ferries sold and leaving for Tanzania

Dave Meyer — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 02:51:30 +0000

Two of the state's passenger-only ferries, the Skagit and the Kalama, have been sold to Scope Community Consultants of Coquitlam, B.C., for $400,000. The boats have been tied up at the dock since the state ended passenger-only service in 2009. Their new owner is loading them onto a cargo ship and sending them to Tanzania, where they'll ferry passengers between the mainland and the Zanzibar archipelago.

Friday morning's headlines

KPLU News Staff — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:17:09 +0000

Here's what's making headlines around the Northwest this morning:

Angry Crowd at Seattle Police Accountability Forum
Investigation of John T. Williams shooting Deemed Fair
Legislature Nixes Governor's Plan for Regional Ferry Authority

Anger, outbursts at forum on Seattle Police conduct

A Seattle police accountability forum at City Hall turned into a shouting match at times, and some demanded the resignation of Police Chief John Diaz.

KOMO News reports the goal of the Thursday night meeting was to restore trust between police and minorities.

Mukilteo ferry dock closing for three weekends in March and April

Dave Meyer — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 20:33:36 +0000

Mukilteo ferry commuters need to make alternate plans for traveling to and from Whidbey Island on three weekends (Friday through Sunday) this spring. The dates are March 18-20, March 25-27 and April 1-3. The Mukilteo terminal is closing for a $2.6 million overhaul of the dock. Commuters will have to either drive around or take special sailings between Edmonds and Clinton.

Governor's Puget Sound ferry authority proposal a no-go in legislature

Bellamy Pailthorp — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 22:20:39 +0000

Legislators on both sides of the aisle are rejecting Governor Gregoire's proposal to fix the state ferry system's chronic deficit by making it into an independent taxing district.

At a House Transportation Committee hearing yesterday, lawmakers nixed the idea, saying they don't think it has the votes to pass. And as John Stang of the Kitsap Sun reports, the Chairwoman of the Senate Transportation Committee says she won't even give the proposal a hearing.

Monday morning's headlines

KPLU News Staff — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:05:48 +0000

Making headlines today:

Legislature convenes today
State worker job losses add up
Seahawks get Chicago next

Friday morning's headlines

KPLU News Staff — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:42:37 +0000

Making headlines today:

Gov's ferry proposal draws fire
Red light cameras in the hot seat
A bottlenose dolphin spotted in south Sound