Senator Murray's
Washington View
Earlier this month, Senator Murray spent a week
traveling throughout our state talking with residents who are tackling
regional challenges. While the Senate is in summer recess, we are
bringing you some of these stories from the road.
August 2005
Improving Transportation and Economic Development
....................................................................................
Dear Friend:
In this Issue:
On August 1st, I spent the day in Seattle and Bremerton talking about
transportation and economic development.
New Boost for Washington's
Ferries – Part I – Seattle
The day started at the Colman Dock, where I joined Rep. Rick Larsen
and Transportation
|
Senator Murray joins Rep. Rick Larsen and Transportation Secretary
Doug MacDonald at Seattle's Colman Dock to announce new funding
for ferries.
|
Secretary Doug MacDonald to announce new funding for ferries.
With ferries moving across the Sound behind us, I announced that
I've boosted the federal government's investment in ferries nationwide
over the next five years. Federal funding will rise from $38 million
this year to $67 million in five years.
This increased funding is great news for commuters, manufacturing
jobs, for productivity and for our economy because we will now have
more money to use in the coming years to fund our state's ferry system.
The funding will be used for capital investments including new vessels,
new terminals, and upgraded facilities. It will support new ferries
and new jobs.
....................................................................................
Rising Demand
Ferry use is expected to grow in Washington state by 15 percent
in the next 6 years. By meeting that growing demand, we will prevent
gridlock and boost productivity.
New Jobs
This new investment will also create jobs. Boat-building is a growing
industry in our state, and we hope this new law will help create new
manufacturing jobs, jobs in boat yards, jobs at ferry terminals, and
jobs staffing the boats themselves. Every dollar spent on transportation
is a dollar spent on job creation and economic growth, and that is
certainly true when it comes to ferries.
The new funding makes the federal government a stronger partner in
ferry system from coast to coast.
More
about the announcement
........................................................................
New Boost for Washington's Ferries – Part
II – Bremerton
Secretary MacDonald and I then rode the ferry from the Colman Dock
to Bremerton and joined local
|
In Bremerton, I announced
that the newly signed transportation bill makes a major investment
in ferry funding.
|
leaders to share the great news about ferry funding.
We met just outside the Kitsap Conference Center with the Bremerton
ferry and Kitsap Transit passenger only terminal in the background.
Speakers included Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman, Dick Hayes of Kitsap
County Transit, and Kitsap Commissioner Chris Endresen.
Listen
to the speaking program
Mayor Bozeman talked about the potential for water transportation.
"We are just beginning to understand the importance of water
transportation in this
region," Mayor Bozeman said. "And I think what we have
today is not anywhere near what we could have and the number of
people we could be transporting, and I think Senator Murray sees
that. I think she's the first person of high elected office in our
community that's ever had that vision."
State Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald talked about how increased
federal support will help local ferries.
"Across the Sound, many of our terminals need major work,
and that's one of the major reasons this money is so welcome,"
MacDonald said. "And the older boats must be replaced, and
that's an important piece of modernizing the fleet so it can serve
all these communities, and this money will be very helpful for that."
Secretary MacDonald also noted the importance of federal funding
to improving security on Washington's ferries.
"It's really evident what some of the measures are that some
people in our government have taken to upgrade our ferries' security
system," MacDonald said. "We feel it's very important for
our passengers and our crews and our vessels. And the support that
Patty and others have been able to bring from the federal government
for this is very welcome because these are expensive measures."
Looking forward, Mayor Bozeman said he saw the outlines of a new
future for Washington's ferries.
". . . [T]oday is a new day in the sense of water transportation
led by Senator Murray and led by Doug [MacDonald] by people like
Dick [Hayes], and I think that's good for our community," Bozeman
said.
Dick Hayes, director of Kitsap County Transit, said, "Our partnership
with our elected officials in Washington, D.C. is probably the most
crucial one over the run."
"We're trying to keep the faith with all parts of Senator
Murray's vision," Hayes said. "We look forward to working
with the Senator and her staff as we go forward. I think we're going
to get on the same page with all the efforts and all the investment
in faster service and have a very good decade from this point forward."
Chris Endresen, chair of the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners,
said, "We are just thrilled with this new infusion of money and
this recognition of how important the ferry system is to Kitsap
County."
"To have representation that understands our way of life
and our quality of
life and the importance of the ferry system, not only to everyone
who lives here, but for moving freight and goods through Kitsap
County up to the Olympic Peninsula…we really, really appreciate
it," Endresen said.
Read
my full remarks in Bremerton
Federal
Budget Adds Ferry Money - The Kitsap Sun - August 2,
2005
....................................................................................
Revitalizing Bremerton's Waterfront
After the ferry announcement, Mayor Bozeman gave me a walking tour
of improvements planned to
|
After the ferry announcement, Mayor Bozeman gave me a walking
tour of improvements planned to create Bremerton Harborside
Park.
|
create Bremerton Harborside Park, a pedestrian-friendly waterfront area
that will celebrate the region's naval history. It was exciting to hear
about the next steps in Bremerton's revitalization.
Located between the ferry terminal, the shipyard, and downtown, the
Park will showcase great waterfront views and will provide green space,
fountains and a museum.
Gary Sexton, Bremerton's Director of Economic Development, pointed
out what the area will look like once the project is complete. I helped
secure $750,000 in federal funds to move and remodel Historic Naval
Building 50, which will become a Naval Museum and the centerpiece
of Maritime Park.
....................................................................................
Supporting the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Next, I toured the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the community's largest
employer. I met with Captain Daniel Peters, the shipyard commander
and Rick Tift, the executive director.
We discussed what's happening at the shipyard and the potential impact
of the BRAC recommendations, which would bring about 1,400 new jobs
to the shipyard. Because I serve on the Senate's Military Construction
Appropriations Subcommittee, I wanted to have a clear idea of the
needs and challenges at PSNS.
....................................................................................
Next Issue
Later in the day, I drove to Camp Murray where I met with Guard and
Reserve members and their families. We discussed some of the challenges
facing returning Guard members. I'll share more that powerful discussion
in an upcoming issue.
Get Updates
TO COMMENT: Please send
an email to: http://murray.senate.gov/email
TO SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE/CHANGE
EMAIL ADDRESS: http://murray.senate.gov/updates
DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS:
webmaster@murray.senate.gov
Office Locations: DC
| Seattle
| Spokane
| Vancouver
| Everett
| Yakima
| Tacoma
|