Port of Kingston to Resume SoundRunner Service by May 15th
By Admin
The Port of Kingston has voted to resume operation of the SoundRunner passenger ferry service between Kingston and downtown Seattle by May 15th.
Port of Kingston commissioners voted 3-0 Thursday night to resume passenger-only ferry service to downtown Seattle by May 15.
The route operated for a month last fall before a blown engine, bad weather and other problems shut it down. The port reassessed the program, convened a citizen advisory committee that unanimously determined it could work, and decided to give SoundRunner another shot.
Tuesday’s resolution commits up to $200,000 a year through 2014 to the program. So far, the port has been spending state and federal grant money, including the purchase of two boats, and $320,000 remains in an operating fund that can only be used for transit. The port also has $12.5 million in the bank and nets $250,000 to $300,000 per year.
Commissioner Tom Coultas cautioned, however, that the money could disappear quickly. He predicated his “yes” vote on several stipulations being met by the end of October.
They include a business plan with a budget for operating costs, an agreement with Washington State Ferries for docking in Seattle, and progress toward being included on the regional ORCA pass and forming a regional transportation district that includes North Kitsap and Jefferson and Clallam counties.
“The port can’t subsidize this on an ongoing basis,” he said.
Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/mar/25/port-officials-vote-re-start-soundrunner-service-m/#ixzz1Hm18IMai
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