Senate plan includes Sidney run and new ferries

Sen. Kevin Ranker, who serves on the Senate Transportation Committee, said “Maintaining the Anacortes-Sidney ferry and limiting increases in fares to no more than 2.5 percent have been among my top priorities, and I’m very glad we managed to include those in this budget.”

But, the budget doesn’t include funding for other projects, including the planned roundabout at Sharpe’s Corner. That project would be pushed down the line a few years.

The Senate's Democratic and Republican transportation leaders also said there needs to be a study to find new ways to pay for highways, bridges and ferries as higher-efficiency cars take to the road, reducing dependence on gasoline.

The proposed budget allocates a total of over $4.3 billion in transportation funding for more than 400 projects across the state in the next two years. About $93 million will be invested in dozens of transportation projects in the 40th district, which includes Anacortes.

The many projects that will improve transportation throughout the district include ramp reconstruction and stormwater drainage improvements to I-5, widening and additional lanes on SR-20, a new Chuckanut Park & Ride, and ferry terminal improvement and preservation work on Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, Anacortes and Friday Harbor.

“These are important projects that will improve transportation and also provide valuable jobs at exactly the time when our economy needs them,” said Ranker.

In addition to limiting ferry fare increases to no more than 2.5 percent and keeping the Anacortes-Sidney ferry running, the proposed transportation budget includes provisions to speed up construction of four new 144-car ferries.

Governor Christine Gregoire had proposed eliminating the Sidney run, which she said would save the state $9.2 million. Under the Governor’s proposed budget, the Sidney runs would end by the end of September this year.

The House version of the state budget is due out next week and the two sides will need to work out any differences.