The Holy Grail vs. the Holey Plan

North Kitsap Herald - September 16, 2006

By Herald Staff

Aqua Express is facing a sink or swim situation when Kitsap Transit goes to the taxpayers next year seeking funds to get passenger-only service out of moorage and running from Kingston across the Puget Sound to Seattle. For the elusive ferry, which has already been scuttled once, every stroke counts.

Last week, a new plan was floated in the Little City by the Sea. A plan that will have the effect of a lead weight for the tax proposal which will undoubtedly struggle for dear life in south and central Kitsap.

While the idea of the Kingston Express Association — which hopes to create a passenger ferry service for commuters by commuters — initially seems to have merit, the plan holds as much water as 5-month-old at nap time.

Heading up the “needed” list for the service? A ferry. Now while we don’t pretend to be Capt. Jack Sparrow, Ahab, or Kirk for that matter, we do know that ferry service, first and foremost, needs a ferry. A real ferry. Or maybe, just maybe, commuters trying to save time will assent paying $10 to being shipped across the Sound in a whaling vessel manned by a volunteer crew. Avast! Their timbers may be shivering indeed!

As far as the volunteer crew goes, the captain of the S.S. El Cheapo might just have to Shanghai those scurvy lads and lasses and shackle them below deck upon arrival. How else can he hope to keep them aboard once they dock in Seattle? Or will they also volunteer to miss work at the very jobs they are trying to get to in the first place?

Arrgh! Ye who disobey will either be walkin’ the plank or dancin’ the hempen jig.

So, to recount ... No real boat. No real crew. And aside from plundering the coffers of Kitsap Transit with blunderbusses blazing, no booty to make this service run.

In reality, it appears that KEA will more than likely be sending the very service it hopes to revive straight to Davy Jones locker instead — something that has

Aqua Express supporters more than a little worried. While Kingston continues to seek, its Holy Grail, it should not be detracted by this holey proposal that will draw the black spot of death for both.

This plan belongs in the seat of ease.

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