Everett and Edmonds out of running for ferry dock

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, February 1, 2011

MUKILTEO — As it turns out, the idea of moving the Mukilteo ferry terminal to either Edmonds or Everett was only that — an idea.

The concept has now been officially rejected by state and federal officials. The reason: overwhelming opposition.

Last fall, ferry officials tossed Edmonds and Everett into the mix in planning an eventual rebuild and possible relocation of the Mukilteo ferry dock.

The notion of moving the dock to Edmonds or Everett was blasted from the beginning by officials in those cities who cited many concerns, especially traffic.

They weren’t alone. The state received 365 comments in meetings and online, and 20 letters from local governments, ferries spokeswoman Hadley Rodero said.

“They all overwhelmingly were in favor of the options for keeping the terminal in Mukilteo,” she said. “There was no support for moving it to Edmonds or Everett.”

In Edmonds, which already has a ferry dock, a new terminal would have been built at Point Edwards at the south end of the waterfront and current sailings from Clinton routed there, according to the plan. Everett does not have a ferry terminal.

Rodero said the two cities were considered primarily to make sure the ferry system was exploring all its options.

David Moseley, the state official in charge of the ferry system, and Richard Krochalis, regional administrator for the Federal Transit Administration, decided early last month to take Everett and Edmonds off the table, Rodero said.

“It’s pretty much as we expected,” Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine said. “I don’t think it made much sense, frankly, to go to Edmonds or Everett.”

Four options in Mukilteo remain on the table: doing nothing; rebuilding the current dock at the foot of the Mukilteo Speedway; or building on either of two sites on the former Air Force fuel tank farm east of the current location. The state is budgeting $86.6 million for the project.

The current dock pilings have been in place since 1952. Traffic is a mess at the intersection next to the dock, at Mukilteo Speedway and Front Street. The terminal lacks many features present at other docks, including overhead passenger loading, and does not meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Officials in Mukilteo want the dock moved to the east end of the former tank farm, near the Port of Everett’s rail-and-barge pier, the mayor said.

This would leave more room between the current commercial district and the new ferry dock for redevelopment, a city goal for years. In the other remaining option, the terminal would be moved but not as far east.

Now that the choices are narrowed down, an environmental study can begin in earnest, Rodero said. A draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be completed by the fall and a final document by 2012.

Design is currently scheduled for 2013 to 2015 and construction for 2015-19.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.