OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire signed legislation today to deliver new car ferries for the Whidbey Island-to-Port Townsend run.
The law, which takes effect today, calls for constructing up to three new boats that will be sized to replace the Steel Electric-class ferries pulled off the Keystone-to-Port Townsend route in November because of safety concerns about their 80-year-old hulls.
The law specifies the new ferries carry no more than 100 vehicles and they must be built in Washington.
State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond has said a request for proposals from ship builders will go out Friday with bids due back within 30 days. Bidders must provide cost estimates for building between one and three vessels.
Hammond has said the aim is to get the first boat in service by April 2009 with a second boat arriving in October and a third in April 2010.
The first one is expected to be a Steilacoom II-class ferry capable of carrying 50 vehicles. Service on the ferry run resumed this weekend using a similar ferry leased from Pierce County.
Several state lawmakers want the second and third boats to be larger vessels. Several of them rode the leased ferry during a trial run last week and endured a rough ride through the challenging water of Admiralty Inlet.
They are interested in the Island Home-class ferry used in Nantucket, Mass., and designed by the same Washington firm that did the Steilacoom II.
The new law is Senate Bill 6794 sponsored by state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island.
It passed the state Senate on a 40-8 vote Feb. 6 and the House of Representatives by an 80-17 margin Tuesday.
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