Passenger ferry contract could be finalized by Dec. 1

Published 4:00 pm Saturday, November 25, 2006

BREMERTON — With the Nov. 7 election complete, Kitsap County residents are being asked to turn their thoughts to the February 2007 vote to raise the county’s sales tax, bringing the sunken passenger ferry service back from the depths.

As the time of decision nears, Kitsap Transit is preparing to do what it can to promote the 3/10ths of one cent local sales tax increase, including completing its agreement with Aqua Express to take over its old route in Kingston.

And though some residents equate having their sales tax raised with trying to swallow hardtack, a poll released by the Marine Transportation Association of Kitsap Nov. 21 showed that the majority of the public favors the increase.

“The vast majority of Kitsap County residents (90 percent), even those who do not regularly commute across Puget Sound, recognize the importance of direct, fast connections to jobs in King County,” the report stated. “Kitsap County residents support public transportation (82 percent) and recognize that passenger-only ferries are a natural and necessary evolution of the transportation system… There is significant support (59 percent) across the county for 3/10ths of one cent local sales tax to support Kitsap-based passenger ferry service.”

The poll comes in the wake of Kitsap Transit officials’ announcement that they plan to alter the agency’s voting district borders to create the best possible odds for the tax’s passage. Kitsap Transit adopted the plan during a Nov. 9 Kitsap County Public Transportation Improvement Conference.

In the meantime, Kitsap Transit and Aqua Express, which ended its Kingston-Seattle run in October 2005 due to financial constraints, are finalizing their agreement to transfer the Kingston run and equipment in case the sales tax is voted into effect.

“Things are going very well with Kitsap Transit,” said Aqua Express managing partner John Blackman. “We’ve met several times, and basically have the agreement done. It just needs to be finalized.”

The official agreement between the two entities should be completed by Dec. 1, Blackman said. A few details still need to be ironed out before the final version is signed, though, added Kitsap Transit Executive Director Richard Hayes.

“We’ve developed the contract format already, and the only thing we really have to do is have it finalized,” he said. “We have a few last little details to cover. We’re spending most of our time right now working on adjusting the boundaries with county staff.”

Aqua Express will also have to file for another six-month suspension of service with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission so it doesn’t lose rights to the Kingston-Seattle run, Blackman said. If voters sink the tax proposal, neither Kitsap Transit nor Aqua Express will have the means to start the service again.

“We’re both anxiously awaiting the February vote,” Blackman said. “It’s going to decide the whole thing.”