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Post by EGfleet on Sept 27, 2011 15:46:50 GMT -8
[glow=red,2,300] Why am I totally unsurprised by this?[/glow] SoundRunner will sail into winter but is in choppy waters By Josh Farley Posted September 26, 2011 at 10:33 p.m. KINGSTON — Passenger ferry service from Kingston to Seattle will continue into December — but without a more than doubling of its ridership, the service will likely be doomed. The Port of Kingston commissioners Monday night approved a $340,000 boost to fund the struggling SoundRunner service through Dec. 20. That's on top of millions in federal and state grants and the $200,000 the port has agreed to allocate to it each year. "What I'm hearing here is 'full steam ahead,'" commission chairman Marc Bissonnette told a packed Kingston Community Center. "And when it stops, it stops." Bissonnette said that to continue the service, the ferry needs to have about 70 regular commuters using it by January, more than double the 25 to 30 using it now. Commissioner Pete DeBoer said he couldn't abandon the groundwork that had been laid getting grants, buying boats and establishing the service. He also was excited about the prospect that ORCA — or One Card for All, a regional transit fare card — would boost ridership when it becomes available on SoundRunner in the coming months. But if the service failed to attract more riders than the little more than two dozen using it daily now, he would not support it any longer. "If we are running at 25 to 30 riders next year, then I'm spent," he said. Commissioner Tom Coultas said he would not support an extension of funds without also sending out a poll to determine how the port's constituents feel about the ferry service — an aspect that was added to the approved measure. The commissioners appeared to swallow hard in making the resolution in the face of declining ridership and the prospect of a precarious winter when weather will undoubtedly cancel runs. But they found hope in ORCA bringing more riders and in the groundswell of support Monday night that filled the Kingston Community Center. Advocates for maintaining the service, and a few for cutting it, gave the commissioners an earful Monday night. Local business leaders talked of its potential economic boost; some community members felt that too much money and energy has been spent to give up now; and riders gave their own testaments of the benefits of having Seattle 50 minutes away by foot. Keeping it going through the winter also would give a year of statistics for the port to glean and allow users to begin to use the ORCA card, an investment that will make it easier for commuters to take SoundRunner. Giving up now — and even for the winter — would mean to "lose credibility," with the community, one Kingstonite said. "It's now or never," said Ron Karzmar, a member of the Port of Kingston's passenger-only ferry advisory committee. But even some of its advocates recognized that the "burn rate" of cash spent to operate the money was too hot. Critics of the service said that spending almost a $1 million a year to operate for only 30 or so people to use the boat consistently was proof the run was "being rejected by the people with their feet," Mary Gleysteen said. Some in the community advocated greater outreach to the community. Only 29 people took the boat for the Seahawks' opening home game, Reed Anderson of Kingston said. Meanwhile, Meisha Rouser, a marketing expert hired in May as SoundRunner's program manager, submitted her letter of resignation Monday. "Due to a lack of support and trust from the Commissioners, I am no longer in a position to do what is required to make this program a success," she wrote in her resignation letter. "My hope is that all the foundational work and momentum that I have helped to create will not be disrupted by this decision." She also wished to clarify in her resignation letter that she had "no background as a marine specialist and was assured that an Operations Manager would be the one responsible for the boat operations, as they are two distinct skill sets." Rouser's work was praised by ferry advisory committee and commissioner candidate Jerry Kirschner, who said she established business and stakeholder relationships to help "develop the bigger picture" around passenger ferry service. Read more: www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/sep/26/soundrunner-will-sail-into-winter-but-is-in/#ixzz1ZCQyAN8p
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Post by EGfleet on Sept 30, 2011 7:16:05 GMT -8
New mini-Ferry links UW, South Lake Union
A new, tiny, 14-passenger ferry is taking passengers hourly between South Lake Union and the University of Washington. By Mike Lindblom Across the heart-shaped lake in the middle of the city, a tiny 14-passenger ferry cruises hourly between South Lake Union and the University of Washington. Mist sprayed over the bow Thursday afternoon while Capt. Matt Stark steered clear of seaplanes, duckboats, kayaks and tribal fishing nets under a blue sky. The boat cruised at seven knots for the 22-minute trip. The Seattle mini-Ferry began Sept. 5. Its founder, Capt. Larry Kezner, wanted to operate the whole summer but took longer than expected to secure permits. Still, he's been able to carry Huskies football fans, and make hourly round-trips. Kezner's business model is predicated on starting as small as possible. After a long career in maritime electronics, Kezner, 66, obtained a captain's license and worked temporarily on the Elliott Bay Water Taxi, which inspired him to launch his own tour-boat business. For years, he has operated the larger Fremont Avenue, a party boat that regularly takes a Sunday ice-cream cruise. He bought a pair of retired Navy whaleboats — "built to carry 20 drunk sailors back from shore to ship," he says — that sip only 1/3-gallon of diesel per hour. They've been renamed the Espresso and the Mocha. Kezner contrasts his philosophy to transit foot ferries that are underutilized and require subsidies. At a fare of $5 per one-way ride, the enterprise could break even on 55 passengers a day, he said. He said he had 30 or 35 passengers on Thursday, but some days hasn't had any. Service will continue through October, then resume in the spring. "This is something I've always done, to try and make something out of nothing," he said. While there's not yet a commuter market, the Mocha satisfied passengers who took a long lunch break Thursday. "I would say we'd use this three times per summer, that's my prediction," said Jed Thompson, among five UW employees returning to work. "I would probably try to find ways to use it, if I ever need to go back and forth," said Kathryn Reniewicki, cruising back to work at Experience Music Project. "I would do it if I was commuting, absolutely." The boat rocked a bit from a dinghy wake, but its high bow and foam-filled walls provide stability. The Mocha cruised easily into 30 mph headwinds last week, Kezner said. The south dock sits next to a floating Thursday farmers market aboard the tour boat Virginia V, along with the historic Arthur Foss wooden tugboat, the Center for Wooden Boats and a South Lake Union streetcar stop. Seattle mini-Ferry operates one boat on this run but could add a second if ridership were to pick up. Kezner said he's designing a diesel-electric hybrid vessel that would carry 18 passengers and be partially covered. Trips could then be added to form a triangular circuit with the Fremont neighborhood. seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016361652_sluferry30m.html
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Post by zargoman on Nov 7, 2011 11:48:11 GMT -8
Kitsap Transit's overpriced protype foil boat is finally getting to the testing. Called the "Rich Passage I", it has very low capacity for it's size, but I guess it's a hydro-foil type of boat that promises super low wake. The problem that I see here is the massive cost vs. the profitability. They need two of them to somewhat match the capacity of the WSF passenger ferries, and I cannot see them compete with the WSF price. It's a good concept, but I don't see anything coming of it unless they can have low fares. But, it's a government agency and they want to make $$. Not going to happen. BREMERTON — Seven years after Kitsap Transit's wake research project began, the agency is finally ready to start testing a passenger ferry that could rip through Rich Passage without tearing up the beach. Beginning this week, the Rich Passage I will be put through the paces in Port Orchard Bay, between Illahee and Bainbridge Island, before graduating to its namesake waterway next spring. The trials have been a long time coming. "I'm a raving lunatic optimist, so I always thought we would get here," Kitsap Transit executive director Dick Hayes said of on-water testing. "It was much more important to get here with the right boat than to just get here period. I'm real happy with where we are." The boat is a 118-passenger catamaran with a lightweight composite cabin, low-wake hull and computer-controlled foil and interceptor system. The original foil fell off on the third day of sea trials in Bellingham Bay in April 2010. After a long delay, Kitsap Transit and boat builder All American Marine agreed to split the cost and hire renowned marine designer and structural engineer Paul Bieker to redesign and oversee production of a new and better one. The new foil and boat performed much better in recent sea trials in Bellingham, and the Rich Passage I cruised into Port Orchard on Wednesday. Next up will be acceptance testing in which the ferry will make about 270 runs over five to eight days. The boat will operate at different speeds and trims during the mile-long passes. Equipment on two buoys will measure the wake's height and energy. If they're within height and energy limits, Kitsap Transit will accept the boat from All American Marine. Then there'll be another 400 to 500 runs over about a month to validate models and predict how the $5.3 million boat will perform in Rich Passage. The testing shouldn't create any problems. "That's a much wider channel than Rich Passage is," Hayes said. I don't think they'll hear much noise or see much wake at all. That's why we're doing it there, to be sure there won't be noise or wake, before we go to the passage." The boat will be dry-docked over the winter while scientists crunch the numbers. Then, from next May to October, it will carry passengers through Rich Passage as the final stage of the research. Kitsap Transit has no funding to operate it after that. The research program was begun by the state, which was forced to slow every passenger-only ferry it ever ran through Rich Passage to cut down on shoreline damage. Waterfront property owners sued, the state lost and got out of the fast ferry business. Kitsap Transit inherited the study. Many believe that 30-minute crossings between Bremerton and Seattle are a key to the area's economic development. The study will determine whether that's feasible. The project has been funded by federal grants. Read more: www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/oct/29/research-ferry-wake-tests-beginning/#ixzz1d3Db5eUo
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Post by zargoman on Jan 30, 2012 23:09:21 GMT -8
Kitsap Transit's M/V Admiral Pete is completed and back in Port Orchard. Not quite ready for service, as crew needs to be familiarized and trained with the new systems. They added 16' to it, put new engines in and repainted her. Just from looking at it from outside, everything that was there is still there, they just built on to the end. I think it looks quite ghetto now.
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Jody
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Post by Jody on Feb 27, 2012 11:31:54 GMT -8
Kitsap Transit's M/V Admiral Pete is completed and back in Port Orchard. Not quite ready for service, as crew needs to be familiarized and trained with the new systems. They added 16' to it, put new engines in and repainted her. Just from looking at it from outside, everything that was there is still there, they just built on to the end. I think it looks quite ghetto now. I guess I'm a bit confused after looking at the photos, as the lengthening doesn't seem to have added anything to the boat other than an enlarged engine room (and more weight). Presume this thing has larger engines and will be faster now, but I didn't think speed was an issue before. Passenger capacity was (marginally), and that doesn't appear to have changed. If anything, all the modifications appear to my untrained eye to have done is given her the capability of burning more fuel doing the same job. Did I miss something here? Jody
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Post by SS San Mateo on Apr 23, 2012 6:45:33 GMT -8
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Post by Neil on Apr 23, 2012 9:20:06 GMT -8
Shame on the Seattle Times for running such an inflammatory headline. When you're calculating the level of subsidy per passenger for any transportation service, you don't make asssumptions about the actual number of individuals using it. You take the total number of boardings, and factor that into the subsidy. This ferry appears to have about 13,000 riders a years, and a subsidy of $52000 a onth works out to about $620,000 a year, which gives you a subsidy of about $46 a ride... not $35,000. $46 a ride is still very high. Why is the Port of Kingston running a passenger ferry service? You don't plan and run an efficient transit system piecemeal. The ferry needed to be integrated into the regional transit system, and the story indicates a lack of co-ordination with bus schedules. Eighteen months is also not long enough to change peoples commuting habits, and the advantage of something being publicly run should be that it has enough time to truly get established. Maybe this service should never have been established. People applying for grants to buy and run ferries which may be too big and undependable seems a strange way to plan transit- outside of a comprehensive regional plan.
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Post by zargoman on May 10, 2012 22:00:40 GMT -8
The only thing that was accomplished was to increase pax capacity from 84 to 124. The capacity has only been needed for the Annapolis runs, as she would overload. The engines are supposed to be more efficient than the old ones. KT has had their hand full with trying to keep her in service. There are legal issues happening between them and the builder for several problems.
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Post by zargoman on May 10, 2012 22:04:27 GMT -8
I just don't get why they thought they could do it, when the Aqua Express proved that the ridership is just not there (at least with the fares required to make it work). WSF's service and fares are nearly impossible to compete with.
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Post by zargoman on May 28, 2012 20:36:42 GMT -8
Anybody remember the Retsil, which operated for Horluck Transportation between Bremerton and Port Orchard (along with the Thurrow and Eagle)...I found an old photo that I have of her.
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Post by BreannaF on Aug 1, 2012 21:27:59 GMT -8
Pictures of Kitsap Transit's passenger ferry Rich Passage I. Seen here leaving Pier 50 about 5:15 PM. The photos are taken from the incoming Kingston Spirit: This picture is my favorite -- Tacoma and the Great Wheel in the background: The Rich Passage I heading into the sunset toward Bremerton, passing the Kaleetan coming the other way: That thing sure puts out a big wake -- compared to the car ferries.
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Post by SS San Mateo on Aug 10, 2012 7:39:29 GMT -8
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Post by SS San Mateo on Aug 26, 2012 9:42:45 GMT -8
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Post by Barnacle on Aug 26, 2012 15:56:12 GMT -8
About time. They never did address the parking issue.
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Post by EGfleet on Nov 15, 2012 9:35:25 GMT -8
I saw this coming. 11/13/2012 11:26:00 PM Port of Port Townsend pulls plug on passenger ferry projectOperational cost, low rider interest cited as factors By Tristan Hiegler of the Leader The Port of Port Townsend Commission has voted 3-0 to cancel its passenger-only ferry project and return its federal grant. During the commission’s Nov. 13 meeting, Executive Director Larry Crockett recommended that the $1.3 million Federal Transit Authority grant, awarded in 2010, be returned in its entirety. The money could have only been spent on a passenger-only ferry (POF), a project which Crockett has said is not supported by rider interest in Jefferson County. “I’ve come to the conclusion we’re so small as a community,” Crockett said, adding the population figures for the City of Port Townsend barely qualifies it as a city compared to some metropolitan areas. “This is not the right time for a passenger ferry,” he said. “I think this was a concept that needed to be explored, I think the port manned up and did that to best of our ability.” The original POF plan called for the construction of a new, 49-passenger ferry that could make a Port Townsend-Seattle run in 70 minutes. Crockett said that idea fell out of favor when port officials realized the money awarded could only get them what he described as a “bare bones tin can.” He said about $25,000 of staff time has been put into the project over the past two years – an internal expense, not a budget line item. Although the concept of a fast ferry that could bring Jefferson County residents to downtown Seattle and visitors here makes sense, the pure economics do not pencil out. “I just don’t see a way ahead without a heavy subsidy, even though we have a good, solid budget in the black,” Crockett said. Spirit unfeasible For the past couple months, Crockett and other port officials have been considering the 149-seat Spirit of Kingston for a PT-Seattle route. The Port of Kingston shutdown its Kingston-Seattle commuter run Sept. 28, after losing money for two years. The port was working on an operations plan so the FTA would transfer the Spirit to Port Townsend at no cost. However, Crockett said both potential local operators examined the boat and deemed it economically unfeasible. “The Spirit from Kingston is not the... type of vessel we’re looking for,” Crockett said. “In talking to potential operators, this vessel doesn’t pan out.” He said according to Pete Hanke and Bob Wise, two ferry operators who submitted bids for the PT-Seattle project, the POF would have to burn around 30 gallons of fuel a hour. The Spirit burns about 100 gallons an hour, Crockett said. He said the two potential operators have essential backed out of the project. “We have no operator at this point if we move forward,” said Jim Pivarnik, deputy port director. He said the planned transportation of the Spirit to Port Townsend for a survey hasn’t occurred and won’t at this point. Pivarnik said the commission’s decision to halt its POF work leaves the door open for King County to acquire the Spirit as a water taxi. Giving it back Pivarnik said in an interview after the Tuesday meeting the grant money is being held in a FTA account. He said there shouldn’t be any problems’ transferring the money back to the federal government. “I think the money will be put to good use in other communities that need ferry help,” Pivarnik said. When asked by the port commission if there would be any adverse impacts from returning the grant, Crockett replied, “I don’t think so, I think the FTA folks are acutely aware of the difficulties in running a ferry.” Eric Toews, planning analyst for the port district, said the transfer should run smoothly and he plans on calling the FTA later this week. “My sense from the FTA staff is they operate in the role of a facilitator as much as anything else,” Toews said. “Given the fact we’ve been so methodical in this...I have the feeling they will be understanding.” Pivarnik praised the commission’s decision, noting it was the right move given the project's economic feasibility. “It was such a slim margin,” he said. “I think the port did the right thing and they spent their time and really did their research.” He noted that Sen. Patty Murray’s office was instrumental in getting the grant. Pivarnik said a letter explaining the port’s position would be sent to the Washington senator and her staffers. “I want to make sure we give adequate thanks for their time,” Pivarnik said, adding, “I feel good about what we did.” ptleader.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=32513&SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55
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Post by rusty on Nov 15, 2012 16:26:34 GMT -8
That's bad news for the future of Port Townsend. A quick link to Seattle would be a game changer for PT. As is, the town is slowly dying due to lack of jobs, and the lack of a fresh crop of retirees.
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Post by Barnacle on Nov 15, 2012 18:43:44 GMT -8
On the other hand, killing the Port Townsend-Seattle run before it got started should be considered a great savings of taxpayer money for a project that all but about six idealistic boosters knew was a non-starter.
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Post by rusty on Nov 16, 2012 9:36:21 GMT -8
I agree that they figured out they'd lose a lot of money, so they pulled the plug. But in a larger way, the Port of Port Townsend probably doesn't have much money to spend anymore anyway -- Port Townsend is slumping back to the town that had houses with trees growing through the floors, and out the windows.
WSF screwed up the passenger-only program with their refusal to do north-south routes, and the insistence of a Bremerton-Seattle route. If WSDOT had built a passenger only marine transportation system linking the communities (and, yes I know I'm dreaming) of the Salish Sea, towns like Port Townsend, linked to Seattle, would now be thriving, and not mired in the depths of this Great Recession.
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Post by chokai on Nov 16, 2012 13:49:13 GMT -8
A POF ferry needs to get the commuters to have any shot at making enough money to not require gobs of subsidy. As soon as you have to cross any open water with a decent fetch it becomes unreliable and that makes it unacceptable to commuters. Tons of people I work with commute from Bremerton and Kingston to downtown Seattle. Almost no one really cared that they lost the PO service. Those few that did quickly realized after that it wasn't a big deal.
Without the commuters it's a massive subsidy to give tourists a novel way to get into small communities that otherwise might not see them due to travel times and distances challenges.
So glad to see logic win and for this one not go anywhere.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2012 17:26:01 GMT -8
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Post by SolDuc on Dec 29, 2012 0:23:46 GMT -8
This is actually a boat operating for Kitsap Transit. Because the Carlsie II is OOS, the Admiral Pete (regularly BR-Annapolis) has to serve the BR-Port Orchard run (the regular Carlsie II run), leaving BR-Annapolis with the Admiral Jack and another boat.
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Post by SolDuc on Jan 2, 2013 1:51:40 GMT -8
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SolDuc
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Post by SolDuc on Jan 2, 2013 1:54:57 GMT -8
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SolDuc
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Post by SolDuc on Jan 16, 2013 23:16:11 GMT -8
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SolDuc
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Post by SolDuc on Jan 23, 2013 22:14:58 GMT -8
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