Duane Clark calls the saving of the Anacortes to Sidney, B.C., ferry run by the state Legislature “sweet success.”

The state transportation budget was finalized by both the House and the Senate during the weekend with a provision that the Sidney run operated by Washington State Ferries will continue.

“Thanks to the efforts of thousands of folks in the territories surrounding Anacortes and Sidney and responsive legislators in Olympia, we can finally say that we have indeed Saved Our Ferry,” said Clark, who led the campaign to preserve the run through the Save Our Ferry organization.

The House and Senate passed the $7.5 billion compromise transportation appropriations bill 77-19 on Saturday and 41-8 on Sunday, respectively. It now goes to Gov. Christine Gregoire for final approval.

The Sidney ferry was included in both the Senate and House draft transportation budgets but eliminated in Gov. Christine Gregoire’s version, where it was calculated the state could save $9.2 million in expenses by canceling the run.

That proposal in December launched the local SOF group, which argued the run provided $5.9 million in annual tax revenues to the state and local jurisdictions, $30 million in annual payroll, and $126 million in annual spending in the Northwest region. The figures came from an economic study done by E.D. Hovee for the Economic Development Association of Skagit County.

The SOF group helped organize community meetings in Anacortes and Sidney, hired lobbyist Mike Ryherd, wrote letters and made phone calls to state legislatures and encouraged others to do the same.

In response, the group gained support from Sens. Mary Margaret Haugen and Kevin Ranker and Rep. Jeff Morris and other legislators throughout the state. Through Morris’ and the Town of Sidney’s efforts during the session, the Sidney terminal docking fee was decreased from $400,000 in Canadian dollars per year to $300,000 by B.C. Ferries, adding strength to the group’s efforts. Another small success came when a legislative plan to eliminate Ferry Advisory Committees, which communicate issues important to ferry communities to WSF, was defeated.

As things were looking up this earlier this month, Clark said he already had the e-mail prepared and was sitting on the edge of his chair “just waiting to push the send button” on the message that he sent to SOF members on Sunday exclaiming victory.

Clark specifically thanked several people, including Anacortes Mayor Dean Maxwell and Sidney Mayor Larry Cross, who he said “demonstrated energetic, persuasive, persistent, and politically astute skills” during the SOF campaign.

Others he thanked were Anacortes Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mitch Everton, SOF webmaster Kirk Kennedy and EDASC Director Don Wick, who brought forth the E.D. Hovee Report that revealed the economic benefits the run provides to the region.

The transportation bill specifically calls for the continuation of the Sidney ferry run and allows the Washington Department of Transportation to implement a Sidney terminal departure surcharge on fares for out-to-state residents to help pay for docking fees.

It also authorizes WSF to purchase a foreign-flagged vessel for the Sidney route if a secondhand one becomes available at a good price. Because it would be a foreign-built vessel, it would be prohibited from making stops at two U.S. ports in a row, causing the Sidney route to be reconfigured to a direct route to Canada from either Anacortes or the San Juan Islands.

The bill directs more funds to vessel construction rather than terminal improvements. DOT is directed to pursue contracts for a second and third 64-vehicle vessel for the Port Townsend/Keystone route with an option to purchase a fourth or, if resources are available, purchase a 144-vehicle vessel. The Anacortes terminal replacement project will go forward only so far as federal funds are received.

Nearly $3 million in the budget is allocated for near- and long-term capital improvements, $3.7 million to develop a reservation system, and $1.1 million for marketing with $20,000 going specifically to Port Townsend and Coupeville for mitigation expenses related to only one vessel operating the Keystone route.

The bill directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to review WSF’s capital cost accounting practices, the Transportation Commission to review and modify WSF fares and consider implementing a ferry fuel surcharge, and WSF to include greater detail in its 2011-2011 transportation appropriations request. DOT is also instructed to develop a proposed ferry vessel maintenance, preservation and improvement program.

The final budget was criticized by some lawmakers, including Rep. Norma Smith who said the package fails to deliver the best value for the taxpayers by leaving ferry construction unfunded after 2015 and other deficiencies.

In other news concerning the Sidney run:

• Sidney Mayor Cross has expressed interest in putting together an international forum to discuss future issues with the run;

• WSF is negotiating a new long-term lease for its use of the Anacortes terminal at Ship Harbor with the Port of Anacortes. WSF Ferries Division Assistant Secretary David Moseley addressed the commission in April, asking it to consider a yearly lease payment of $309,400. The payment would provide a 7 percent return rate on the property recently appraised at $4.42 million.

• WSF has received $8.4 million in federal stimulus funds and is preparing to apply for another $60 million in the national federal discretionary grant program.