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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Agency urges second ferry to Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska – After two years of having just one boat on the route, the Alaska Marine Highway System wants to again have a second ferry running between southeast Alaska and Bellingham.

System officials decided to have just the M/V Columbia on the popular route in 2008, citing money problems and the need to perform more maintenance on the state’s 11 aging boats.

However, the Juneau Empire reports that officials have changed their minds because the Columbia is running at near capacity.

Ferry system spokesman Roger Wetherell said the vehicle deck on the Columbia has been 96.8 percent full so far this summer, with passenger capacity at 73 percent.