Annapolis dock among ferry projects awarded federal funds
BREMERTON — Federal ferry grants will fund an Annapolis dock and contribute to renovating Seattle's Colman Dock and replacing its adjacent passenger-only float.
Kitsap Transit will receive $4.5 million to make the Annapolis facility ADA compliant, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray's office announced Monday.
The agency won't use any of the money to buy the dock from the Port of Bremerton. That $947,000 transaction already is underway. Kitsap Transit, which had been leasing the dock, needed to own it or have a long-term deal before the federal government would pay for improvements.
The 34-year-old facility is nearing the end of its 40-year service life. During low tides, the dock sits on the mud and the gangway climbs steeply. They'll be replaced by a larger dock — with a shelter — and a longer ramp to push the dock farther into the bay to reduce the angle and make it accessible to older and disabled people, both fast-growing groups.
"We're excited to be able to make this final ferry terminal ADA accessible," said Steffani Lille, Kitsap Transit service and capital development director.
Also receiving money from the competitive Passenger Ferry Grant Program will be King County's replacement and expansion of the passenger-only service dock just south of Washington State Ferries' Colman Dock. The feds are contributing $3.9 million to the project.
This is where cross-Sound passenger-only ferries from Bremerton and Kingston have docked and would again if service resumed.
WSF is getting $3.4 million from another federal source — the Passenger Ferry Grant program. The funds will pay for an overhead pedestrian walkway connecting the car ferry and passenger-only ferry terminals in Seattle, WSF spokesman Ian Sterling said.
The estimated $326 million project will preserve the aging, deteriorating and seismically deficient facility and remove safety conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2017 and be completed in 2023.
The latest designs and what to expect during construction will be presented April 19 aboard the 4:40 p.m. sailing from Seattle to Bainbridge and 5:30-7:50 p.m. inside the Bainbridge terminal; and April 26 aboard the 4:20 p.m. sailing from Seattle to Bremerton and 5:30-7:30 p.m. inside the Bremerton terminal.
Murray, Sen. Maria Cantwell and U.S. Reps. Jim McDermott and Derek Kilmer wrote in support of the projects.
"Washington state's well-used ferry system is more than just an icon of the Puget Sound — it's a vital transportation link for thousands of people every day and a critical part of our regional economy," Murray said. "I'm proud to fight in Congress for the kind of investments that make our transportation systems safer, more efficient, and able to meet the demands of our rapidly growing region."
Kilmer said the grants were great news for local commuters.
"Whether you live on Bainbridge, Bremerton or elsewhere, many folks rely on the ferry system to get to work and back home on time," he said. "As the number of riders on our ferries continues to grow, this investment reduces the chances that bottlenecks will slow people down. I was proud to join my colleagues in supporting this project."
By: Ed Friedrich
Source: Kitsap Sun