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

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Dear Friend:

In this Issue:

New Ferry Funding – Part I - Seattle
New Ferry Funding – Part II – Bremerton -
Revitalizing Bremerton's Waterfront
Supporting the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard

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.

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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

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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

Mayor Bozeman

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.

Secretary MacDonald

"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."

Dick Hayes

"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

Chris Endresen

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

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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.

Bremerton Maritime Park

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.

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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.

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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.

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