Let’s look at the bright side: Washington State has committed to spending $65 million to build an Island Home-style 64-car ferry to serve the Keystone to Port Townsend run, which has been in a state of turmoil since the old Steel Electric boats were pulled from duty one year ago over safety concerns.

A diminutive rental boat called the Steilacoom II has been filling in, crossing the dangerous waters without incident to date. But the run is desperate for a bigger boat and news that one will be built and in service sometime in 2010 is great for the Whidbey Island community. Of course, with the Washington State Ferry System, there’s always a dark side.

The single bid from Todd Pacific Shipyard in Seattle was far higher than anticipated. But since the state legislature years ago limited bidding to in-state shipyards, Todd had no competition. A southern shipyard built the first Island Home-style ferry in 2005 for $32 million. No doubt legislators will be arguing again about the wisdom of the “build’em in Washington” approach, but in the meantime we get a boat and Whidbey Island benefits again because Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland will be a subcontractor.

Meanwhile, ferry system costs continue to soar and the legislature can’t get a handle on it. When Dan Evans was governor, there were plans on the books to build some bridges across Puget Sound. It might be time to dust off those plans.

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