What you should know about Kitsap Transit’s automated rider alerts
A Kitsap Transit rider views a rider alert on their phone.
In October, Kitsap Transit began issuing automated trip-cancelled rider alerts to our subscribers. The goal of the automated alert system is to provide riders with more timely, consistent and accurate alerts when a ferry or bus trip is unexpectedly canceled due to mechanical problems, weather or other causes.
Prior to implementing this new feature, Kitsap Transit staff issued alerts manually on a case-by-case basis. The new automated alerts use structured, templated language and include fewer details than alerts written by Kitsap Transit staff.
When Kitsap Transit ferries experience issues that force the suspension of service for days, as the Southworth and Bremerton routes have over the last several weeks, Kitsap Transit staff will issue a manual alert with details. These alerts will include a general timeframe of when we expect service to resume or a date by which Kitsap Transit will provide an update.
However, subscribers to a route will also receive automated alerts about specific sailing cancellations. These alerts, which are triggered when a trip is canceled in our real-time information system, simply indicate which sailing is canceled. This means riders will receive duplicate alerts in the event of extended ferry outages.
We will continue to issue both manual and automated alerts for several reasons:
When a trip cannot be operated, Kitsap Transit must cancel it in our real-time information system to ensure riders can accurately use trip-planning apps like Google Maps, Transit, and our own KT Tracker.
If trips are not canceled in our real-time information system, those trip-planning apps will show them as scheduled, and riders may make travel decisions based on outdated information.
As the region prepares for big soccer matches in Seattle this summer, we want to ensure that non-English-speaking riders and riders who do not subscribe to rider alerts have the same access to accurate, timely information via transit apps.
The alerts system also issues automated cancellations for our routed buses. Turning off the automated alerts function for ferries also disables it for buses.
If you do not ride during a certain part of the day, you can modify your subscription so that you don’t receive alerts during that time period. On our Subscribe page, log in using your phone number or email and select the route you ride. You can customize when you receive alerts.
If you don’t want to receive alerts during an extended or planned service disruption, you can pause your subscription and check our Rider Alerts page for updates instead.
Questions? Contact Kitsap Transit's Customer Service staff by calling 360.373.2877 or 800.501.RIDE.