DOT to base fast ferry in Juneau
Alaska's new fast ferry Fairweather will be based in Juneau instead of Sitka as earlier planned, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The 235-foot ferry, set to begin operating in May 2004, originally was to be housed in Sitka and make daily trips back and forth to Juneau.
But DOT Commissioner Mike Barton, following a recommendation from the agency's Marine Transportation Advisory Board, announced late last week that the Fairweather will be based out of Juneau and make runs to Haines and Skagway five days a week and to Sitka two days a week.
The ferry will carry 250 passengers and up to 35 vehicles, and travel at speeds of up to 32 knots, or about 36 mph.
DOT estimates that housing the ferry in Juneau will save the state $5 million annually in operating costs and as much as $2 million in one-time capital costs.
Sitka Mayor Fred Reeder acknowledged that the Alaska Marine Highway System, as well as the rest of state government, is facing tough financial times but said Sitka has lacked adequate ferry service for decades.
"We had been promised that ferry," Reeder said. "It would have helped our community immensely. We've been fighting this battle (for better ferry service) since 1962 and we lost another one."
He noted that last year more than 38,000 people traveled between Juneau and Sitka by airplane, proving a need for enhanced ferry service between the two cities.
"That's a lot of people going back and forth between Juneau and Sitka," he said. "There's a huge connection between the communities, and the ferry isn't meeting that need."
Cost is the primary reason for basing the ferry in Juneau, said Gary Cuscia, DOT Southeast Region Administrative Manager. Using the Fairweather in Upper Lynn Canal five days a week will allow DOT to lay up the state ferry Taku, he said.
"To operate the Taku for a week is approximately $166,000," Cuscia said. "In contrast, to operate the Fairweather is approximately $90,000."
Walt Sheridan, a DOT spokesman, said the $2 million in capital savings comes from a difference in cost between building dock facilities in Juneau and Sitka. Establishing a port facility in Sitka would require a complete overhaul of the existing dock space, he said.
"It would be difficult to continue our existing operations (in Sitka) while making those major modifications," he said.
Juneau will simply require construction of a stern berth facility to be located south of the existing state ferry terminal at Auke Bay, Sheridan said.
AMHS has not yet released a 2004 summer ferry schedule, but a draft version of the schedule has been sent out to Southeast mayors, city governments, economic councils and other quasi-governmental entities for comment.
DOT plans to have a final version of the schedule out by Nov. 17, said AMHS General Manager George Capacci.
The draft version of the schedule has the Fairweather making trips to Sitka on Wednesdays and Sundays, Capt. Capacci said.
The rest of the week the Fairweather would make daily trips straight to Haines and back and then straight to Skagway and back. Mainline ferry service still will be provided between Haines and Skagway but not at the regular times AMHS has provided in the past.
Capacci said DOT is considering hiring a private ferry to provide shuttle service between the two Upper Lynn Canal communities.