KINGSTON — When the Kingston passenger-only ferry suspended its service last October, it left many commuters high and dry. Since then, the financially turbulent mode of transportation has been struggling to keep its head above water.

And while solutions have been dogpaddled around, no viable life ring has appeared, until now.

Kitsap Transit and Aqua Express have entered into negotiations to try and float the ferry service from Kingston to Seattle again.

“It’s going very well,” said Aqua Express managing partner John Blackman. “We’re negotiating a joint development. We hope it will be completed by the first of December.”

After lower than expected usage, Aqua Express requested and was granted a temporary discontinuance of service by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Committee from Oct. 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006. When it became apparent that additional time was needed to get the project’s motor running again, Aqua Express filed for another temporary discontinuance of service from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2006. Blackman said while he is confident an agreement will be reached with Kitsap Transit, a third discontinuance may be needed.

He predicts the ferry service will be back in the water sometime in spring 2007.

“The funding is dependent on the vote of the people,” he said, referring to a proposed sales tax increase for residents in the transit district on the November ballot. If it passes, the passenger ferry will be buoyed into existence again.

Discussions started between the two companies a little over a year ago, said Aqua Express spokesman Jim Boldt. If the sales tax, which hasn’t been clarified yet by Kitsap Transit, isn’t voted into action, Kitsap Transit will likely reevaluate its assets and go from there.

“It’s on their side of the fence,” he said. There’s a positive feeling for the sales tax package and Blackman said he is certain that the project will move forward again.

“There’s been a lot of interest and support for the passenger ferry in Kingston,” said North Kitsap Commissioner Chris Endresen. “The state is not going to come through for Aqua Express. The state needs to work harder to fund the ferries we have. The money needs to come from local sources.”“It was made clear to me that the passenger-only service future depends on having a practical working relationship with Kitsap Transit,” said Sen. Phil Rockefeller (D-Bainbridge Island), adding that he hopes the business plan that Aqua Express and Kitsap Transit agree upon is solid.

“Everything hinges on the negotiation and the participation with Kitsap Transit,” Boldt said. “If support with Kitsap Transit is there, Aqua Express will run.”

The business plan and funding won’t be hashed out until negotiations are done and the two entities have agreed to work together.

Funding also depends on how the sales tax vote turns out. If all goes the way Aqua Express hopes, plans will begin to put the Kingston-Seattle route back into service.

“We need to reach an agreement with Kitsap Transit before any service-approved extension can be considered,” Blackman said. “If it goes long enough, we may go for a second extension depending on what we agree on.”

“From my conversations with people, they really want to see the service again,” Endresen said of the passenger ferry’s popularity.

“There were a heck of a lot of comments last October,” Blackman said of when the route was discontinued. “Essentially Kingston was asking for us to please reinstate service.”

Kitsap Transit did not return the Herald’s calls by press time.