Title
A MOTION expressing interest in the MV Spirit of Kingston.
Body
WHEREAS, the King County Ferry District ("District") operates two waterborne public transportation routes using two leased vessels and maintaining multiple agreements for back-up vessels as available at the time of need, and
WHEREAS, the District is constructing two new two hundred fifty passenger vessels to replace the leased vessels and accommodate its growth and the long term operation of waterborne public transportation services in King County, and
WHEREAS, the addition of a third vessel, with minimal initial capital cost to the District, would support the public transportation operations of the District through increased service and operational reliability, and
WHEREAS, the Port of Kingston has recently discontinued passenger only ferry services and expressed that the MV Spirit of Kingston is surplus to their needs, and
WHEREAS, the Federal Transit Administration, which funded the acquisition of the MV Spirit of Kingston, desires to keep the vessel in public transportation service;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Board of Supervisors of the King County Ferry District:
A. The King County Ferry District is interested in acquiring and using the MV Spirit of Kingston to support its ongoing waterborne public transportation services; and
B. The chair of the board of supervisors is authorized to send a letter expressing this interest to the Port of Kingston and the Federal Transit Administration, Region X, and to plan for the integration of this vessel into the operations and services of the King County Ferry District.