by Cut Taxes : 6/3/09 5:32pm - Report Abuse

This is sorta like the bride to no where

by K Gero : 6/3/09 5:34pm - Report Abuse

For the people who work in Wauna and live on Puget Island or the Cathlamet area, this is a great improvement. It beats going back to Longview to cross the river to work.

by Ham Chuck : 6/4/09 2:22am - Report Abuse

If one were to compare this to bridge to nowhere, wouldn't that mean this is a ferry to nowhere? But given the fact there is a destination, make this a poor comparison?

by Vancouver Sue : 6/4/09 6:28am - Report Abuse

"Enough room to accommodate tour buses" - I hope that they can actually get the buses on and off that ferry!! Many years ago, when I was in high school, I was on a school bus coming home from a ball game at Cathlamet, and we crossed on that ferry. I believe it was low tide, but the passengers on the bus had to ******* the bus and walk off the ferry to reduce the weight on the ferry so the bus could actually ******* the ferry!

by K Gero : 6/4/09 9:35am - Report Abuse

Vancouver Sue: I am sure the bleeped words would be g e t off. Anyhow, it takes a new terminal (access to and from the ferries especially), in order for the ferry boat(s) to properly launch and dock. Their next step in the future will include a $5 million ferry given that funding would be available.

by Vancouver Sue : 6/4/09 11:42am - Report Abuse

Good grief, you're right, K Gero. Last I heard, the word "get" and "off" were still acceptable terminology, even when combined! I swear that the bleepers' minds are in the gutter, wouldn't you say? Jeez, all I'm talking about is people disembarking a mode of transportation!! Like getting out of one's car. Let's see if that is bleeped. Or gett ing off (oops) one's bicycle. Or g e t ting off of a bus. Maybe they don't like "getting" - maybe because it's more blessed to give than receive, do you think??

Anyway, I'd love to see more frequent service there as well. I had an occasion last year where I was making a loop that included Cathlamet and Clatskanie. I hadn't taken that ferry in many years, so was looking forward to the excuse to ride it. But I had just missed it, the next departure was 45 minutes off, it was faster to backtrack to Longview and cross the bridge.

by K Gero : 6/4/09 12:19pm - Report Abuse

Vancouver Sue: As far as the use of "that" phrase as well as w*a*s*t*e*d, these are derrogatory terms used in modern slang of which I still am not used to utilizing at this site.

Yeah, I still haven't utilized the ferry. We went one time, but the line was so long, we decided to wait. Maybe next time we visit Puget Island.

by J K : 6/4/09 2:17pm - Report Abuse

What am I missing here? The ferry is in Cathlamet, over the Columbia River. That's in a totally different part of the state than Puget Sound. Both the reporter and some of the commenters seem to think they're together, though . . .

Using Federal money for this ferry is incredibly inappropriate. The ferry is not part of the interstate highway system. The ferry does not create a large number of jobs. It does not even give any community better access to jobs. Even the article mentioned that it is just a backup. The ferry has absolutely no benefit for anyone other than the locals. If the residents of Cathlamet think the ferry is worth it, then local tax money should be used for its upkeep.

by K Gero : 6/4/09 2:30pm - Report Abuse

Puget Island, not Puget Sound, is in the middle of the Columbia River at Cathlamet and is accessible by bridge. This provides a shortcut for those who wish not to traverse back and forth through Longview or Astoria. They are working on upgrading the tourism venues through the area. Cathlamet is a quaint town with a nice museum and much history. It is worth the time to take a closer look at the town on the waterfront. Puget Island, surrounded by water, is rich in farmland and has fantastic opportunities for bird watching, cycling and a nice side trip on day ride enroute to the coast. I'm sure there is much more that can be done around the area, too. This is a short distance away from Vancouver and is well worth the trip. I think an upgrade of their ferry system is money well spent.