New Ferries On the Water by 2030
Washington is getting ready to trade out old ferries for new vessels, according to the WSDOT Ferries Division.
The long-range plan extends through 2030, with five purchases planned over the next five years.
"After a lot of hard work by the Legislature, Gov. Gregoire and WSDOT, we are finally at a place where we can look ahead to long-term, sustainable service of our marine highways," said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. "This is good news for the communities that depend on our marine transportation system, but also for the entire state of Washington."
The plan will additionally include the purchase of 10 new vessels to replace retiring ferries, as well as maintenance work on existing ferries and terminals.
"The final long-range plan for the ferry system is the culmination of the efforts of many people, including lawmakers, ferry served communities, and WSDOT," said Assistant Secretary David Moseley. "The plan sets a path for WSF between now and 2030 with the first milestone being construction of the 64-auto ferry."
Funding for the plan may be a little tricky though, since WSDOT estimates a funding gap of $3.3 billion over the next 22 years, but the plan is to develop a sustainable funding source for the ferry system by working with the Legislature.
Boeing to take over Vought Aircraft Industries
Though a second production line for the 787 Dreamliner airplane hasn't been confirmed, Boeing announced it's buying supplier Vought Aircraft Industries in North Charleston, S.C. for $580 million.
"Integrating this facility and its talented employees into Boeing will strengthen the 787 program by enabling us to accelerate productivity and efficiency improvements as we move toward production ramp-up," said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "In addition, it will bolster our capability to develop and produce large composite structures that will contribute to the advancement of this critical technology."
The purchase will make it possible to start a second production line for 787, but Boeing has not confirmed any plans for a second 787 line.
"In my conversation with Scott (Carson, on Monday), he assured (me) that no decision has been made on a potential second line for the 787 and that today's announcement doesn't have anything to do with that," Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a statement.
The South Carolina facility makes fuselage sections for the 787, making it a potential site for 787 production.
Despite the potentials of the site, Vought Aircraft Industries found the financials of their program too demanding.
"We take great pride knowing that we have been able to satisfy the technological and physical demands of the 787 program alongside much larger companies," said Elmer Doty, president and CEO of Vought Aircraft Industries. "However, the financial demands of this program are clearly growing beyond what a company our size can support. We are pleased that we will continue our 787 involvement at a component manufacturing level, as well as provide ongoing technical capabilities that have helped make Charleston a world-class composite facility."
Seattle looking to repeal unpopular tax
Three years after proposing the annual "head tax" Mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council plan to repeal the unpopular business tax.
The "head tax" proposed is $25 for ever full-time employee. The tax, though a potential discouragement for hiring, raises about $4.7 million a year.
Though $25 may not be enough to deter hiring, Council member Tim Burgess told The Seattle Times the tax has the potential to make Seattle less attractive as a business friendly city.
The "head tax" stipulates exemptions for commuter employees.
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