Kitsap Transit makes emergency move to stop collecting passenger fares

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Kitsap Transit said it will stop collecting fares on all of its services until further notice as part of its efforts to combat the ongoing spread of COVID-19.

Officials said the move was made “to minimize interactions at the farebox and protect the health of its bus operators and ferry deckhands.”

The emergency fare-free policy applies to all services, including routed buses, ACCESS transportation, worker/driver rides, vanpool, ferries and the Annapolis Park & Ride.

Kitsap Transit also announced that reservations on the Bremerton Fast Ferry will be temporarily suspended.

The agency’s fast ferries will be filled on a walk-up basis only, with capacity limited to 46 passengers. Health-care workers and first responders will receive priority boarding and must show their official identification to Kitsap Transit’s representative at the dock.

Also, Kitsap Transit bus operators will be asking passengers to stay behind the yellow line at the front of the bus to maintain 6 feet of distance from the operator.