PORT TOWNSEND — Those interested have until Oct. 16 to make comments on Washington State Ferries’ study of the potential environmental effects of expanding the Port Townsend ferry terminal in 2008.

The idea is to have the least impact possible on eel grass and marine life in the vicinity of the project, according to a representative of Washington State Ferries’ project engineering firm, CH2M Hill.

“We believe we’re heading toward a determination of non-significance,” Michelle Elliott told about 20 attending the agency’s public forum at Fort Worden State Park Chapel on Wednesday.

Such a determination would mean no significant environmental effects would be caused by the project.

Comments can be e-mailed to Hadley Greene with the ferry system at porttownsendproject@wsdot.wa.gov, or mailed to Greene at 2901 3rd Ave. Suite 500, Seattle WA 98121.

Expanding the dock

Proposed is a $36 million expansion of the Port Townsend ferry dock.

Work is scheduled to begin in fall 2008.

Ferries officials and other representatives of CH2M Hill engineers presented their latest report on the project that would extend the dock 180 feet to increase parking by 70 additional holding spaces.

One remaining uncertainty is the size of the ferry vessels that will be built for the Port Townsend-Keystone run: Ferries containing 65 cars, 100cars or from 124 to 144 cars.

The new ferries would replace nearly 80-year-old Steel Electric vessels that are the oldest in the nation.

Ridership on the Keystone-Port Townsend route was nearly 800,000 in 2004, said ferry officials, who are planning for 67 percent growth in total projected long-range ferry ridership to Port Townsend during afternoons only.

Charlie Torres, Washington State Ferries project manager, has said ferry size depends on what happens on the Whidbey Island side of the ferry run at Keystone.

Five five options are being considered for a ferry terminal there.

A decision on Keystone is expected in the spring, officials said.