Skagway committee backs ferry concept but disputes Haines’ 5–2 schedule, flags dock and charging costs

Skagway’s ferry advisory committee on a virtual call on an unspecified date heard a briefing from Caitlin Jared of Southeast Conference on a proposed high‑efficiency (HE) shuttle ferry and agreed to back the ferry concept while urging more equitable service for Skagway and additional investment in docks and shore‑side charging.

Jared, a transportation planner with Southeast Conference, told the committee that the project is split into three parts — vessel design, community outreach and a blueprint integration plan — and that the DOT design study is complete and the vessel design is roughly 10% finished. “The goal is to keep this boat under a 100 tons,” Jared said, noting that staying under that tonnage affects crewing and capacity and that batteries add complexity to the design.

Why it matters: the committee was responding to a Haines Borough draft letter that proposed five days a week of direct service to Haines and two days to Skagway. Committee members said available summer traffic data and route distances suggest a more equitable split is appropriate and…