Lawmakers have funded a new state ferry. Here's how you'll pay for it.
New funding approved late last month in Olympia will start the process of building the state’s next ferry, keep construction rolling at Colman Dock in Seattle and pay for the conversion of an existing ferry to run on electric power.
State lawmakers approved funding for a handful of major Washington State Ferries projects in the recently completed legislative session, sending them to Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature. Here’s how the money shook out.
New hybrid ferry on the way
Legislators approved funding for a new state ferry, a 144-vehicle hybrid vessel that WSF estimates could be built in two to three years. The vessel would be the state’s fifth Olympic-class vessel, but with a twist. The vessel would have diesel engines that power a battery bank that in turn power the vessel but would also be capable of running completely off electric power drawn from a dock, WSF spokesman Ian Sterling said.
Legislators appropriated $99 million toward the new vessel in the 2019-2021 biennium with the intent of dedicating an additional $89 million in the following biennium. The $188 million total would pay for the new vessel, cover the costs of tweaking the vessel’s design and begin paying for “long-lead-time” parts for a second vessel, said Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island.
Read more: https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2019/05/07/lawmakers-fund-washington-state-ferry-service-fee-fare-increase/1132736001/