State ferry system officials Tuesday evening will explain the latest design for two Lynn Canal day boats.
It’s the first in a series of forums on the proposal to be held this week in Juneau, Skagway and Haines.
The proposed 280-foot shuttle ferries would serve the three communities, operating 12 hours a day. Current design calls for ships that would carry about 53 standard-size vehicles and 300 passengers.
The state transportation department is collecting public comments on the preliminary design through the end of the month, but DOT spokesman Jeremy Woodrow says this week’s meetings are informational and not public hearings.
“They’re to present the day boat, Alaska Class Ferry design concept to the public, answer questions on the concept itself. It’s not a forum to accept public comments. The official way to submit public comments is to be done online through the email link that’s on the Alaska Class website,” Woodrow says.
AMHS Captain John Falvey, Deputy Commissioner for Marine Highways Reuben Yost, and ferry consultant Elliott Bay Design Group, will be on hand to answer questions.
Juneau’s forum is from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Egan Room of Centennial Hall.
Sessions are scheduled later this week in Skagway and Haines.
The day boat shuttles replace the proposed Alaska Class ferries that were so deep in the planning process a construction contract was to have been awarded in July. Gov. Sean Parnell last year told DOT to scrap the plans and come up with less expensive ships.
DOT has said the two shuttle ferries should not exceed $117 million.
