Washington State Ferries director David Moseley said in his weekly memo today that the system is wasting no time spending the $8.4 million in federal stimulus funding that the Puget Sound Regional Council approved for it last month.
Early in the week, the 188-auto Spokane went to Fairhaven Shipyard in Bellingham for a 14-week preservation project that received $2.7 million in stimulus funds. The work includes repainting most of the boat’s superstructure, replacing steel and upgrading piping and navigational equipment. The Spokane is usually on the Kingston-Edmonds route.
Later this month, the 87-car Evergreen State will go in for a preservation project that got $1.5 million in stimulus funds. It’s usually in the San Juans.
The other $4.2 million in stimulus dollars will pay for several terminal preservation projects to begin construction later this year. WSF is also preparing to compete for the $60 million national federal discretionary grant program.
