FILE PHOTOS BY Larry Steagall / Kitsap Sun The Rich Passage 1 was pressed into service last month on the Bremerton-Port Orchard route.

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By Ed Friedrich of the Kitsap Sun

PORT ORCHARD — An ambitious outreach effort could sway Kitsap County voters to finally support cross-sound fast ferries.

Proposition 1 asked them to approve a local sales tax increase of 3 cents on a $10 purchase to fund half-hour sailings from Kingston, Bremerton and Southworth to downtown Seattle. In early voting Tuesday night, the measure had received 50.8 percent "yes" votes.

With 30,000 ballots remaining to be counted, however, it's too close to call, said Kitsap County Auditor Dolores Gilmore.

Support committee Friends of the Fast Ferry raised nearly $80,000 in two months. The group bought signs, mailings, advertising and videos, and its Facebook page attracted 2,325 page likes.

Steve Sego, the group's campaign manager, felt more optimistic than Gilmore.

"We're pleased — but not surprised — by today's election results and the resounding support for the proposed Kitsap fast ferry system," he said in a statement. "Kitsap fast ferries will provide the economic opportunity and lifestyle choices that Kitsap residents will enjoy for years to come."

The committee was an outgrowth of a group of developers, real estate agents, property owners and business people who had met behind the scenes to craft recommendations for the fast ferry proposal.

Kitsap Transit created its own website and videos, and executive director John Clauson presented the proposal to about 30 community groups.

"We tried to make sure everybody in the community was aware this was on the ballot and give them the opportunity to find information about the proposal online or come to a meeting," said Sanjay Bhatt, who became the agency's first public information officer in March. "We hope that everyone who voted on this had the opportunity to learn about the proposal and be informed about what they were voting on."

Most local politicians supported the plan. No organized campaign opposed it. Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson was one of two transit board members who voted against putting it on the ballot.

"It's close," she said of Tuesday's 1,392-vote margin. "We just have to wait and see. I'm just glad that the election's over, more than anything else. The vote is what the vote is and then we'll move ahead."

The proposal offers advantages over previous plans. Kitsap Transit spent $13 million mostly federal dollars to study beach erosion in Rich Passage and build a low-wake boat to prevent shoreline damage. The existing Port Orchard-Bremerton ferries will be coupled with the cross-sound operation, freeing $1.5 million per year for added bus service. Riders have argued that the lopped service should be restored before the agency worries about fast ferries.

The most voiced complaint about the plan was that everybody will pay a regressive sales tax increase to provide a faster ride for a few commuters who already have car ferries available to them.

Under the plan, Bremerton service would begin on July 1 with 60 sailings a week — three round trips in the morning and three during the afternoon commute. The Kingston route would start one year later and Southworth in July 2020. Service would be expanded from May through September to 105 trips a week. King County Marine Division, which runs water taxis from West Seattle and Vashon Island to downtown Seattle, would operate Kitsap Transit's boats.

Ticket prices would be kept about $2 higher per trip than competing car ferries, ranging from $5.25 per round trip using a reduced-fare monthly pass to $12 for full fare. Bus transfers would be included.