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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 Mukilteo gains what Edmonds loses in ferry terminal plans By Bill Sheets Herald Writer SEATTLE -- If the latest plan for ferry terminals in the state becomes reality, Edmonds will not get the grand new station for ferries, trains and buses that it's dreamed of for years. Plans for a new ferry terminal in Mukilteo, however -- on hold the past few years because of funding shortages -- would be back on the table. Ferry officials presented a rough draft of a $3.5 billion plan through 2030 for terminals, boats and cost-saving measures to legislators in Seattle on Monday. It's not clear where all the money would come from, though fare increases for vehicles of 9 percent per year from 2010 to 2017 could be part of the scenario. The draft is a response to an order from the Legislature last year to come up with a long-term strategy for the system. The plan has yet to be approved. Ferry staff are expected to take a final version to the Legislature in January. A key part of the plan would allow travelers to reserve space on ferries in advance, as is done in British Columbia. This is expected to reduce demand at peak travel times, in turn reducing the need for large-scale improvements at several terminals, including Edmonds, officials said. With a reservation system in place, no third boat would be needed on the Edmonds route, ferry system planning director Ray Deardorf told the Joint Transportation Committee on Monday. The ferry-train-bus terminal envisioned since the late 1980s at the south end of Edmonds would cost at least $80 million today. By contrast, improvements to Edmonds' current terminal to allow for a reservation system would cost $6.5 million. Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson said ferry officials filled him in on the latest plan before it was made public Monday. "The reality of the times dictate that the Edmonds Crossing is not going to happen in the next five or six years, for sure," he said. "We would be thrilled to be the test case for the reservation system." It's not been decided whether a fee would be charged for reservations or when the system would begin. It would likely start on the Edmonds-Kingston and Mukilteo-Clinton routes, Deardorf said, because these terminals have the longest summer and holiday backups. In 2005, the state agreed to buy 21 acres of the former Unocal tank farm at the south end of town for $8.2 million as the eventual location for the new terminal. The agreement calls for the sale to become final as soon as an environmental cleanup of the property, currently in progress, is completed. Ferry officials did not say what would happen to the property if it's not used for a ferry terminal. "I would encourage the state heartily to donate the property back to the city of Edmonds," Haakenson said. "We could make a park out of it." The property is located between two city parks, the Edmonds Marsh and Marina Beach. The state is in the process of cleaning the parcel of ­petroleum-contaminated soil. In Mukilteo, the plan calls for setting aside $115 million for a new ferry terminal, which would likely be built on the former ­military-owned land to the east. The property is next to a new train terminal that opened earlier this year. There, improvements to accommodate the reservation system would be difficult to build in the limited space at the current dock, so it would make sense to go ahead and build a new terminal, Deardorf said. "We knew that this was an important project to them," Mayor Joe Marine said. "It's just a matter of when they get the funding." READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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