Citizens Lobby to Keep Ferry

A campaign is being mounted to retain passenger-only ferry service between Port Townsend and Seattle, according to an AP report. Ridership has reportedly grown daily since the route was instituted after the state's only vehicle-and-passenger vessels that could operate on the Port Townsend-Keystone run were pulled from service last month for safety reasons. Riders have started a Web site, Seattle2PT.com, with an online petition for supporters to "unify and send a clear message to Washington State Ferries and the state of Washington that the passenger-only run between Port Townsend and downtown Seattle must be kept." The fast ferry Snohomish, which makes four round trips a day, could carry 350 passengers but it is limited to 149 without the preparation of a safety and security plan. (Source: AP)