There Really Is A Bremerton Ferry Strategy
January 8th, 2009 by ed friedrichMayor Bozeman called today to discuss the city’s strategy for
trying to keep the existing level of ferry service for two years.
By then, he said, either the economy will be better, the state will
have figured out a meatier financing plan, or both.
It’s not a yell-and-scream strategy, he said. It’s to work with the
power brokers who will be making the decisions.
“My plan is to work behind the scenes with the people that are
going to make the big decisions,” he said. “ I think that’s the
most effective way to do this.”
Bozeman said he’s already met personally with ferries director
David Moseley five times and two or three with the Transportation
Commission, which is coming up with funding alternatives. He plans
to speak with transportation secretary Paula Hammond and Speaker of
the House Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, who grew up in Bremerton, and to
another Bremerton native, Congressman Norm Dicks.
“To be honest with you, Frank Chopp’s going to have to help us
here,” Bozeman said. “He understands the issue of ferries in
Bremerton. I think we can get some help from him.”
Bozeman said the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council has made it
clear to the area’s nine legislators that “this is the year you
really have to step up and accept responsibility for providing
leadership on this issue.”
There’s no way the ferry system’s draft long-range Plan B, which
follows the governor’s proposed budget, would be acceptable,
Bozeman said. It would cut the Bremerton-Seattle route from two to
one car ferry and the Southworth-Vashon Island-Fauntleroy route
from three to two boats, hoping that local governments can fill the
gaps with passenger-only ferries. Plan A would keep service pretty
much as it is. He said the ferry system needs to come up with $80
million more this legislative session to maintain existing service
for the next two years.
“Our legislators and me, being able to get Norm Dicks involved, and
Chopp … the goal is to come out of the session with assurance of
continuing the level of service the way it is, he said. “That’s the
plan and has always been the plan. The key is to get the
legislators to get it done for us.”
Bozeman said he met with county and city leaders Wednesday and they
agreed to go back and look for money to conduct a study on the
ferries’ economic impact on their communities.
“I think we’re going to get this done,” he said. “The fight is just
starting.”
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
January 8th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
““To be honest with you, Frank Chopp’s going to have to help us here,” Bozeman said. “He understands the issue of ferries in Bremerton. I think we can get some help from him.””
Let’s name a ferry after Frank Chopp…one of the new ones he, Dicks, Boseman and the other good ferry fighters are going to get for us.
Last night I saw Bremerton’s night lights …they are spectacular. I enjoyed seeing the Bremerton sign and thank the heavens that the tunnel will soon be operational… what a bit of uglies the ferry driver see driving onto Washington. Yick.
What is happening to the area around the tunnel exit? New business, something beautiful for the ferry traffic to see?
Sharon O’Hara
January 9th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Mayor Bozeman: “My plan is to work behind the scenes with the people that are going to make the big decisions,” he said. “ I think that’s the most effective way to do this.”
Today’s headline from Representative Seaquist: Legislator Asks Riders to Come Up With Plan C for State Ferries
Left Hand meet Right Hand. Or – as another blogger referenced – Larry meet Moe.