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Kitsap Transit

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Kitsap Transit
Kitsap Transit Bus 757 at the Washington State Ferry Terminal in Bremerton, Washington
ParentKitsap County, Washington
Founded1982
HeadquartersBremerton, Washington
LocalePuget Sound region
Service areaBremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, Kingston
Service typePublic Transit
Vanpool
Worker-Driver
Foot Ferry
Routes47
Destinations20
Hubs8
Fleet120 buses
Fuel typeDiesel
OperatorKitsap County Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority
WebsiteOfficial website

Kitsap Transit is a public transportation agency serving Kitsap County, Washington, USA. The system is based in Bremerton, Washington and is overseen by a nine-member board composed of the three county commissioners, the mayors of the four incorporated cities in Kitsap County and two Bremerton City councilmembers.

History

Beginning in 1971, the city of Bremerton operated a municipal transit system that had been bought out from a private company.[1]

A countywide public transportation benefit area (PTBA) was formed in 1978 to explore a transit system for Kitsap County as a whole. A 0.2 percent sales tax was put before voters in May of that year for a countywide system, but was rejected.[1] A second attempt was put on the September 27, 1982 ballot, with a 0.3 percent sales tax and a limited PTBA serving Bremerton, Gorst, Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Silverdale. The PTBA was approved by 55.6 percent of voters, and service began in January 1983, taking over the Bremerton municipal system.[2]

In 1992, Kitsap Transit became the first transit agency in the United States to install a traffic signal preemption system for bus priority, beginning with 40 buses and 42 traffic signals in a year-long trial of the "Opticom" system.[3]

Kitsap Transit formed a public-private partnership with Kitsap Ferry Company to operate a passenger ferry service between Bremerton and Seattle in 2004, replacing a former Washington State Ferries passenger run that was suspended the previous year.[4]

Up until 2014, Kitsap Transit operated on Sundays and many major holidays, but was discontinued.

Types of service

Kitsap Transit oversees the operations of these services:

  • Routed bus service (47 routes; 120 buses)
  • Foot ferry service (Bremerton to Port Orchard)
  • ACCESS (Door-to-door/curb-to-curb service for elderly and disabled)
  • Worker/Driver (21 commuter routes operating to and from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard/Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton; Drivers are full-time shipyard employees who are also part-time Kitsap Transit operators)
  • Vanpool
  • TIP (Transit Incentive Program), a program for employees at federal work sites.
  • SCOOT (Smart Commuter Option of Today), a commuter alternative program
  • Flexcar

In addition, Kitsap Transit also connects its routes to Jefferson Transit, Mason Transit Authority, Pierce Transit and the Washington State Ferries terminals in Bremerton, Bainbridge, Kingston and Southworth.

Kitsap Transit also participates in Sound Transit's ORCA Card program.

Current fleet

As of February 2016[5]: 24–33 
Fleet
Number(s) 		Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Notes
730–747 2003 Gillig 40' Phantom
  • Does not include 738[5]
750–751 2003 Gillig 35' Low Floor
752–761 2004 Gillig 35' Low Floor
762–766 2005 Gillig 35' Low Floor
770–774 2004 Gillig 40' Low Floor
775–779 2005 Gillig 40' Low Floor
780–787 2015 Gillig 35' Low Floor
  • Began service in August 2016[6]
975–978 2002 ElDorado 24' Aerotech
979–980 2003 ElDorado 26' Aerotech
6000–6027 1994-1997 MCI 102D3
  • Worker/Driver Coaches
7000–7016 2010 Arboc Spirit of Mobility SOM26D
7017–7025 2012 Arboc Spirit of Mobility SOM26D

References

  1. ^ a b Division of Public Transportation Planning (August 1978). "Local Transit-Statewide". Public Transportation in Washington State, 1978 Summary (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. p. 23. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  2. ^ Public Transportation Office (October 1984). "Local Transit". Public Transportation in Washington State (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. p. 85. OCLC 13007541. Retrieved August 23, 2016 – via National Transportation Library.
  3. ^ Whitely, Peyton (July 6, 1992). "Buses in Bremerton get the green light". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  4. ^ Gilmore, Susan (July 31, 2004). "Kitsap Transit chief takes risk with ferries". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Transit Development Plan, 2016–2021 (PDF) (Report). Kitsap Transit. February 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  6. ^ "First new heavy-duty transit buses in over a decade hit the road" (PDF) (Press release). Kitsap Transit. August 12, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
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