Johnpaul Davies, Owner

The offices of Key City Fish Company
and Castle Key Food Company.

P.0. Box 278
Port Townsend, WA 98368
360-379-5516
December 15, 2007

Fellow Port Townsenders and Washington State officials:

The unfortunate loss of the car ferries from Port Townsend to Keystone opens up
an opportunity to think of new and creative ways to promote the ferry dock in
Port Townsend. A long term goal of resuming car service from Port Townsend to
Keystone is essential to keep transportation running smoothly around western
Washington. A boat design and dock design that allow for crossings in some of the 
more severe conditions that exist in this crossing would be wise. 
To create as consistent a service as possible that can be readily relied upon by 
businesses and travelers alike should be the goal of new vessel and docking designs. 
This is clearly a long term project. In the meantime Port Townsend has an opportunity, and
apparently the ear of State officials to create a ferry route unique to any
that is presently being run.

Port Townsend is a unique and wonderful educational and recreational jewel,
with easy access to the waterfront via City and Port parks and facilities, the
wonderful wooded paths and stunning waterfront encompassed in Fort Worden State
Park, and the upcoming Maritime Center coming to life next to Hudson Point. Fort
Worden is the most popular and successful park in the State’s Park system, and
the Maritime Center is conceptualized to be a destination facility for the region, 
and has received a number of government grants to help to bring this concept to life. 

Also lodged within Fort Worden is Centrum, the organization that promotes Washington creative arts, 
offering workshops and events as well as some exciting and excellent performances.
Port Townsend also offers a unique and comprehensive public transportation
system that facilitates easy access to all these areas via Jefferson Transit.
This all leads to an unique potential to promote Port Townsend as a public transit 
educational and recreational destination. A direct Passenger ferry link from downtown Seattle
to Port Townsend would connect large numbers of visitors with the dynamic,
recreational and educational jewel that is Port Townsend and all is readily
accessible without a privately owned vehicle--important in the current times of
measuring carbon footprints and coming up with alternative transportation
concepts. The excellent transit opportunities in Seattle and surrounding
regions to Coleman dock in downtown Seattle and from there to Port Townsend via
a passenger only ferry would attract campers, hikers, bikers, shoppers,
picnickers, boat enthusiasts, music enthusiasts, art and maritime workshop
attendees, and so on, none of whom would need to leave home in a private
vehicle. No other ferry terminal has so much to offer the residents of the
State.

The State of Washington has recently unveiled a large investment in the
infrastructure at Fort Worden to expand it’s continued success, the
Maritime Center continues to solicit for government grants to create an
educational destination facility, Centrum continues to promote the Washington
creative arts. These are all large public investments by the State of Washington.
The goal of these facilities is to serve the residents of the State and beyond. I suggest
that the Washington State Ferry System be incorporated in making all this
readily available without need of private vehicles.

There are many of ideas in Port Townsend of how to grow and promote this town.
In many ways, this idea addresses many differing concerns and hopes. Fort Worden
and Centrum are significant employers locally, and by supporting their success,
we support friends and neighbors who work there. Port Townsenders
are unique amongst Washingtonians: we have the easiest access of all to this
fabulous area and all it has to offer, and benefit much from the significant
State funds spent here, that rather directly enhance our local lifestyle.
One idea has been suggested recently, that Port Townsend perhaps re-visit its
resistance to “Big Box” retail, in order to face the demands of
growth and to pay for the city services we are presently enjoying. In my
opinion, the ferry destination opportunity would create the added business that
would increase the city tax coffers without creating demand for new
infrastructure such as new roads, parking lots, and traffic control for cars.
Also, it allows us to retain our unique and independent nature, which
“Big Box” retail stores would erode or even destroy. Downtown
merchants, bed & breakfast owners, restaurateurs, club owners, and the City
would all benefit. Their abilities to provide good stable jobs and create
life-enhancing events to be enjoyed by all, would be
expanded.

Everything necessary to pull this off is already in existence. Jefferson
Transit has the busses running, Port Townsend has the necessary lodging
facilities, the State has made the necessary investments in the Fort, Centrum, 
and the upcoming Maritime Center. 

The Ferry system has the passenger boats. No major new investment is needed, 
other than the expense of running the boat itself and promoting its appeal. 
This expense would be mitigated by the fares charged and if an appropriate
promotional investment is made in getting the word out to Washingtonians of all
that is available to them in Port Townsend the popularity of the trip would
cover a significant portion of these costs. The State of Washington would serve
residents of the State well by effectively promoting the success of a Seattle-Port
Townsend passenger route as it would be an excellent way to increase access to
(and the success of) three significant State investments in education and
recreation.

The Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Organizations could get
involved as well, promoting the benefits of increased customer traffic to their
members. Townspeople interested in public transportation enhancement and foot
and bicycle-friendly transportation would be happy to see the many visitors
filling busses, sidewalks and bicycle lanes throughout our town. The benefit to
Port Townsenders extends beyond having more visitors to their town. 

It establishes for them a direct connection to all the recreational and educational
activities available in Seattle, also easily accessible without the use of 
private vehicles. Merchants would benefit from the increase in customer traffic 
without more vehicle traffic. Perhaps this concept could even make a Taylor Street 
Town Square more welcomed and more realistic. This Port Townsend Passenger Ferry 
concept cannot come to fruition only as a stop gap measure to continue economic 
health during the Whidbey Island car ferry difficulties, and should not be pursued 
as such. For the fullness of positive results to be experienced by all involved, 
a steady and long term investment in a permanent and regularly-scheduled
passenger ferry run between Seattle and Port Townsend needs to be put into
place.

I strongly encourage The City of Port Townsend, Port Townsend Main Street
Organization, The Port Townsend Chamber, The Port Townsend Leader, Centrum, the
Maritime Center Coalition, and Fort  Warden officials to promote this idea while 
we have the ear of the state Ferry officials. It is a win, win, win, win from all 
angles.


Sincerely,
Johnpaul Davies

Owner, Key City Fish Company
Owner, Castle Key Restaurant and Lounge at Manresa