WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: Coupeville-to-Port Townsend ferry route will wait for second boat (VIDEO)

Kira Erickson reports:

…[I]t will be some time before the Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry route is running two boats again.
Washington State Ferries [WSF] officials announced during a public meeting held last week that the route won’t see full service restored until next spring…. [O]nly one ferry will traverse the water between Central Whidbey and Port Townsend this summer.

They Said It

According to Coupeville Mayor Molly Hughes, even with ferry service slashed in half, tourism has not been majorly impacted. The town’s sales tax revenue is increasing and full lodging establishments and long waits at restaurants are indicators that tourists have not been deterred from visiting Coupeville.

“I’m more concerned about the long-term plan of when new ferries will be built and how long that will take to get done, how long it will take to have a positive net increase of boats that will be available,” Hughes said.