More problems for new PT ferry efforts
March 28th, 2008 - 6:30am
(Port Townsend) - An effort to replace ferries on the Port Townsend-Keystone run may have hit a snag.
A bid to build a new ferry for the run is way over what the state wanted to pay.
Todd Pacific Shipyards says it would cost nearly $26 million to build the ferry. That's nine million dollars more than the state budgeted for. The state Department of Transportation estimated
it would cost no more than $17 million.
Transportation officials say they'll have to take a close look
at the bid before determining whether to accept it, re-negotiate
with Todd or reject it and start over.
In a letter to state ferries director David Moseley, Todd CEO
Stephen Welch says several factors drove up the cost, including
prices for the construction materials.
The new ferry is one of six that are being built over the next
four years.
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Meantime local state representative Lynn Kessler is trying to squelch rumors that the state will pull the plug on additional ferry runs for Port Townsend this summer.
Governor Chris Gregoire vetoed part of the state transportation budget. But Kessler says money for the ferries will remain.
Kessler expects the extra runs will start to be added around Memorial Day. Daily extra runs should start in June and run through late September.
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