Foot ferries almost ready to launch

BREMERTON — “Buckle up. You’re going to have the ride of a lifetime, and it’s just the beginning,” Patty Lent told a crowd celebrating the kickoff of fast ferry service Wednesday morning on the boardwalk. 

Besides the demonstration trip on the Rich Passage 1 after the boardwalk event, the mayor’s words could describe the decade-long trek to Monday's start of service.

“There’s a whole lot of folks who need to be recognized for their efforts and years of pulling this together,” said Kitsap Transit executive director John Clauson, who named off a handful of people who were seated in front of him.

* Dick Hayes, Clauson’s predecessor and “the gentleman who started this effort. He spent many difficult, challenging hours pulling this entire project together.”

* Norm Dicks, the former congressman who along with Sen. Patty Murray “was instrumental in getting the funds we need to construct this vessel."

The first sailing from Bremerton to Seattle at 5:40 a.m. Monday will culminate an effort that began 14 years ago, when Washington State Ferries shut down in its passenger-only ferry service because of large wakes and small budgets.

In November, on the third try, Kitsap County voters raised their taxes to support fast ferries.

"This is the heart of maritime innovation," Gov. Jay Inslee said Wednesday. "We are so excited that the citizens of Kitsap County are taking this step forward. Let's have a round of applause for the citizens of Kitsap County."

Fast ferry service is a high-tech solution to Puget Sound's growth problem, the governor added.

"A boat moves the best when all of the oars are in the water paddling in one direction —  Kitsap Transit, civic leaders, business leaders, Kitsap citizens," he said.

Transit board chairman and Port Orchard Mayor Rob Putaansuu summed up the event.

"Thank you to all the supporters who helped us get there," he said. 

Then they took a ride. Hayes, who fell a couple days ago and hurt his hip, required a wheelchair. It was tied down at the rear of the boat. Although he'd ridden on the Rich Passage 1 many times, he was "massively proud" Wednesday.

"Oh, it's wonderful, terrifically wonderful," said Hayes, who retired five years ago. "It's just nice to remember how smooth it is. It's a really nice ride."

Bruce Englehardt, who writes for the Seattle Transit Blog, drove all the way from Snohomish County for the event. 

"It makes a lot of sense," he said of fast ferries. "We have great waterways that are basically highways without lanes. Some people in Seattle think nothing is out here in the west. Fast ferries help people realize that Bremerton is a real city and could become the next Brooklyn or Oakland."

Service will begin Monday with three round trips in the morning and three in the evening on weekdays, and 10 round trips on Saturdays. The cost will be $2 to Seattle and $10 back, though rides are free in July. Reservations are available for 88 of 118 seats.

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