State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen met this week with other lawmakers and a boatbuilder to see if there might be an alternative to Washington State Ferries’ plan to either move or enlarge the Keystone terminal in order to accommodate larger ferries.

Haugen, the ranking Democrat on the transportation committee, has been opposed to the project from the start, as it would involve major terminal renovations at both Keystone and Port Townsend.

Several sites are being considered in the initial phases, including Driftwood Park at the other end of Keystone Spit from the current harbor, and a site at the far end of Admiral’s Cove. All sites are said to be within a range that would meet the same 30 minute crossing time.

Haugen said other alternatives, such as building boats to fit the harbor, need to be considered, and she has sent that message to the Department of Transportation and Washington State Ferries.

“I think they’ve heard us loud and clear: The legislature thinks it is inappropriate to move the terminal,” she said.

She met Thursday with Sen. Jim Horn, R-Bellevue, chair of the Highways and Transportation committee, Rep. Barbara Bailey from Oak Harbor, and Matt Nichols, owner of Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland.

“We are going to be changing the direction the department (of Transportation) is going,” she said. “I feel very confident the department is not going to be proceeding with this project.”

Haugen said if the supplemental budget now before the time-crunched legislature is passed, she will work to see that it does not include funding for the project.

“I don’t see any point in spending $1 million on an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) for something they’re not going to do,” she said.

She would like to see the ferry system look at either building boats that would fit the current harbor, or at redesigning the current harbor to fit the boats.

WSF puts the cost of terminal upgrades at both Keystone and Port Townsend at $59.2 million, plus $285 million for four new Issaquah-class type 130-car ferries. One of those would replace the two 65-car ferries currently serving the route.

Ferry system officials say the 130-car boats would be used across the system. Only one ferry would be used on the Keystone run, which would mean a year-round reduction of runs on the popular tourist route, and possible disruption of the local environment and human population.

Celia Schorr, public outreach coordinator for the Keystone project, has said the ferry system has specific requirements for its vessels based on operational needs, such as they must be double-ended, carry a specific number of passengers and vehicles, and be contoured to fit the terminals.

Nichols provided information Thursday to the group on boats in general, but not specifically on building ferries for the run.

“I could build them, sure,” he said, “but I can’t advise operators on what boats would fit the slip.”

Rep. Bailey wanted to ensure that any move by the ferry system would not decrease ferry system to the island.

“I want to be able to maintain good service at a reasonable cost without impacting the environment,” she said.

Sen. Horn said the committee is debating the wisdom of moving the terminal versus keeping it where it is.

“Moving a terminal is always a serious proposal,” he said.

He noted there are a lot of costs and opposition associated with the ferry system’s proposal.

Horn couldn’t say what the prospects for the project were in the budget, but he didn’t underestimate senior Senator Haugen’s political power.

“She is a very influential member of the budget negotiating team,” he said.