HomeMy WebLinkAbout021623 FW_ Hood Canal Bridge Closures
________________________________
From: Susan Hopkins
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023 4:19:43 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: Kate Dean; Greg Brotherton; Heidi Eisenhour
Subject: Hood Canal Bridge Closures
________________________________
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
________________________________
Dear Kate, Greg, and Heidi,
As Treasurer of the Olympic Music Festival and a frequent traveller to Seattle, I am concerned with closures of the Hood Canal bridge during weekends this August. As you are aware Arts
organizations in Washington State contribute financially to both state and local coffers. The Olympic Music Festival runs weekends from August into September each year in Port Townsend.
In 2019, pre-covid, 54% of our ticket sales or over $55,000 was from the Seattle Metro and Kitsap Counties. Last year, still in Covid apprehension and ferry instability, the ticket
sales from Pierce, King, and Kitsap counties totalled 31% of our ticket sales, or approximately $30,000. This does not account for any monies brought into Port Townsend or on the peninsula
for food, gas, or lodging. With the ferries still understaffed, we have been anticipating a struggle to return to the 2019 attendance percentage, now, with the Hood Canal bridge potential
closures we are even more concerned with loss of revenue. Are there any plans for the County or State to help those of us on the Peninsula recover lost revenue funds due to the closures?
As a family that travels back and forth to Seattle, Seatac, down to Portland frequently, and yes, during the summer months family comes to Port Townsend on the weekends, this also affects
us. Alternate routes,101, and the two lane back roads, already often used by travellers, now will be clogged. What will be the upkeep cost on that? Not to mention the dollars lost
because travel is too difficult. This will affect spending decisions affecting the local economy.
Thank you for your concerns in this area, I hope that you can convince WSDOT of alternative times for their projects. Feel free to contact me if you wish any further information,
Sincerely,
Susan Hopkins
Treasurer, Olympic Music Festival
Phone: 360-344-8490
1002 D Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368