State ferries come to Little Norway

Published 9:00 am Saturday, December 2, 2006

POULSBO — The North End will get its crack at the Washington State Ferries’ plans to repair and improve the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal this month.

WSF officials are hosting a public scoping meeting from 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 6 at the North Kitsap High School Commons in the first of two events aimed at gathering input from the North End. The second will be from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Bainbridge terminal.

“This is the best time for public input,” said WSF customer and community relations manager Joy Goldenberg.

The scoping process is designed to identify all of the issues and alternatives as WSF moves ahead with proposed improvements to the ferry terminal, Goldenberg said.

“We want the public to help us make sure we’ve addressed all of the issues,” she said.

Currently, ferry system officials have three different proposed options for improvements, on which they are asking the public to comment, she said.

“Scoping is critical because it helps us be able to show a preferred alternative,” she said.

The scoping is also important in the ferry system’s efforts to prepare a draft environmental impact/assessment document for the project as required by both the Washington State Environmental Policy Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, Goldenburg said.

“We should be coming out with a draft environmental document in the winter of next year,” she said.

However, ferry officials want as much public comment and feedback as possible by the Jan. 12, 2007 deadline, Goldenberg said.

Poulsbo Mayor Kathryn Quade said Poulsbo residents should attend the meeting, because the Bainbridge terminal is a gateway to both the city and State Route 305.

“All of us have to work together if we don’t want to be left out,” Quade said, noting that some of the ferry traffic goes east towards Kingston instead of straight through Little Norway.

Another development that could impact traffic in the region is the possible return of passenger-only ferry service from Kingston to Seattle, she said.

“That could reduce some of the traffic through Poulsbo,” she said.

However, regardless of the outcome of the Kingston passenger-only ferry decision, it is important for the public to be involved in the ferry system’s plans so they aren’t left out, Quade said.

Poulsbo City Councilman Jim Henry agreed that the public should take advantage of the opportunity to make their opinions known about the future ferry terminal improvements.

“Your opinion is as important as anyone else’s,” Henry said. “Your perspective might be different from someone standing next to the fire.”