Kitsap Transit’s board received updates on a passenger-only ferry study and the Seattle fast ferry terminal, and approved the agency’s 2025-2030 Transit Development Plan, along with the purchase of two new ORCA card machines as part of its July 15 study session.

Kelly Lesoing, a Seattle-based associate planner with KPFF Consulting Engineers, provided the board with an update on the passenger ferry study. She said the first phase of the study included assessing passenger-only route opportunities that the agency would want to continue assessing.

“We started with three routes that were initially identified for the study and included in the project scope, and those include Bremerton to Bainbridge Island, Bremerton to Manchester, and Bremerton to Silverdale. In addition to those three routes, we’re taking a look at other route options throughout Kitsap County to understand if there are other potential intercounty connections that we should look at in more detail,” she said.

KT executive director John Clauson said the agency received over 2000 comments for the passenger-only ferry study over the three proposed routes. Lesoing said one of the goals of the survey was to gauge public interest in the three study routes and provide the public an opportunity to suggest other routes and learn more about the community’s preferred routes.

The survey asked respondents several questions, including typical travel and typical frequency of trips.

Lesoing said the Bremerton to Bainbridge Island route received around 67% of responses as a preferred route, with 23% selecting Bremerton to Silverdale, and 9% overall selecting Bremerton to Manchester.

Clauson shared his support and appreciation of community input.

“I’m grateful for the work that’s being done and grateful that the community responded to our inquiry, and now we’ll be able to take that information and start whittling it down and looking at it more in depth to be able to come up with some recommendations, ” he said.

KT boardmember Clarence Moriwaki shared his support for a BI route, adding he wants to know more about the cost of the route, timing and projected ridership.

“I’m pleased to see that the majority of constituents want to come to Bainbridge Island,” he said. “It’s nice to have a line on a map. It’s another thing to really think about what this is going to cost.”

Regarding next steps, Lesoing said the team will look at completing a preliminary assessment of route opportunities and providing guidance for a detailed route analysis.

“In addition to the survey interest, we’re also looking at other factors like navigation and vessel weight considerations and travel time comparison to other modes,” she said. “We’ll provide all those screenings to key management and support their selection routes that get carried forward for the business plan level of assessment.”

Clauson said KT will plan to share information with the public about costs and timeline of proposed routes.

“One of the big missing pieces to this, and what this will be part of the continued effort, is that we’ll be able to share with the community that this seems to be the most likely route, or routes that would succeed, “ Clauson said. “Because costs are going to be an issue that the community certainly needs to be aware of.”

The board reviewed a presentation regarding the Seattle fast ferry terminal project. The multi-year process aims to expand passenger-only facility capacity along the downtown Seattle waterfront.

KT is currently evaluating three potential sites, including Pier 58, Pier 48, and Pier 46. The current facility at Pier 50 has limited capacity with space for only two vessels at a time.

“Kitsap Transit’s passenger-only ferry service frequency cannot be increased during peak commute periods due to the limited landing site capacity. Current service is limited to 12 landings from the three Kitsap Transit routes within the peak period,” per agency documents.

As part of this process, KT has received public feedback, including written comments and public meetings. Public comment opened at the end of June and will remain open until Aug. 11.

The board also approved the purchase of two new ORCA card readers for a total of $163,422. One new machine will be at Southworth ferry terminal, with the second at the Bremerton ferry terminal. The machines are intended to help with upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, documents state.

The Transit Development Plan that was approved includes 5-year guidance on the agency’s future objectives, such as planned future projects, projected ridership and service goals.