Kitsap County Commissioner and Kitsap Transit Board Member Chris Endresen recently met with port and chamber officers and private vessel operators to investigate a private-sector passenger ferry proposal to the Board of Kitsap Transit Director’s to consider at their January 20 meeting.

“Tax payers have clearly rejected the full-meal deal. If there are private interests out there, that don’t need public money and can still conveniently to link us to economic centers, we need to give them a shot,” said Endresen. “Kitsap Transit plays a role in this, but it doesn’t need to be the leading role.”

Argosy Cruises, Clipper Navigation, Inc., Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, and TMT Corp., comprise the Aqua Express Ferry Service, which together with Pacific Navigation Co. have formed a coalition of Puget Sound private ferry operators.

They joined officials and business leaders from Kitsap County, Kitsap Transit, the Kingston Chamber of Commerce, and the Port of Kingston in a three-hour meeting to determine what steps are needed to give the ferry coalition a green light for service to start as early as this spring.

The proponents say their proposal is analogous to the operation of airport facilities, which are generally developed by the public sector to facilitate private air carriers. The coalition partners would provide fast ferry service from Bremerton and Kingston to Seattle, funding operations and capital, and accepting all risk.

“Together, our companies represent 126 years of experience in ferry transportation Argosy – 53 years; Clipper 18 years; Nichols 45 years, and TMT 10+ years). It’s only through careful consideration we are making this proposal,” said Darrell E. Bryan, executive vice president and general manager of Clipper Navigation.

“We have confidence in what we are doing, but we need to assume control of our destiny if we are going to undertake this effort,” said John Blackman, managing director of Aqua Express. “We are the parties that will bear the risk, incur the capital cost, and face potential damage to our reputation if we are not successful. It’s time for the private sector to see what can be done.”

The state assigned exclusive rights to passenger ferry service last spring before voters rejected Kitsap Transit’s passenger ferry sales tax proposition. To proceed with their plan, the Coalition needs the Kitsap Transit Board of Directors, comprised of the four city mayors and the three-member board of county commissioners, to allow their application to be submitted to the state Utility and Transportation Commission – but only until the special state legislation expires in spring of 2005.

“Although, we could move forward without Kitsap’s approval in 2005, we’re ready now,” said David Tougas, vice president and chief financial officer of TMT Corp (Four Seasons Tours). “We think that with the help of the County and Kitsap Transit, we can all benefit from this new service in the very near future.”

Before adjourning the meeting, the group laid out several next steps, including a meeting of Coalition owners with Kitsap Transit to hammer out a recommendation to present to the Transit Board.

“We have some tough questions to answer. We don’t want to tie up our options if this plan won’t float, but I’m encouraged by these private-sector firm’s interest and drive,” continued Endresen. “Our highways are clogged and this proposal provides a needed choice for Kitsap commuters.”.