Rep. Fitzgibbon Stands up for Passenger Ferries

WSDOT's preliminary plans for their replacement of Colman Dock eliminate the passenger ferry landing as part of their terminal redesign. I covered this issue extensively on this blog and it was written up in Publicola and the Seattle Times.

I just got word from transit and passenger ferry champion, Representative Joe Fitzgibbon, that with the support of Transportation Chair Rep. Judy Clibborn and Senator Christine Rolfes, he successfully inserted a proviso into the budget that dictates that WSDOT and WSF (Washington State Ferries) must plan for the inclusion of passenger only ferries at Colman Dock; period and end of story. Budget provisos are a way the Legislature can dictate policies within state agencies for the span of the biennial budget without passing separate legislation. Here is the proviso Fitzgibbon and Clibborn inserted into the House Budget:

"Consistent with RCW 47.60.662, which requires the Washington
state ferry system to collaborate with passenger-only ferry and transit
providers to provide service at existing terminals, the department
shall ensure that multimodal access, including for passenger-only
ferries and transit service providers, is maintained at the Seattle
terminal and included in any future modifications at the terminal."

Concerned citizens and ferry riders should continue to harp on WSDOT for their ill-advised plans to eliminate the passenger landing at Colman Dock. That said, if this proviso sticks, it will be impossible for WDSOT to move forward with their plans as they currently stand. So, passenger ferry fans should email Rep. Fitzgibbon, Rep. Clibborn, and Senator Rolfes to simply say thank you. As transit advocates working for a connected multi-modal waterfront, those of us at Transportation Choices would also like to say, thank you!