Headways Newsletter: February 2024
This week, we announced that our planned Sunday bus service expansion in Port Orchard, Silverdale and Poulsbo – planned for March 10 – is being put on hold. While it’s not the news we wanted to bring Headways readers for our first newsletter of the year, the delay is for a good reason. We need more time to evaluate the financial impacts of I-2117, an initiative that will go before voters in November that would repeal the state’s Climate Commitment Act. You can read more about it below.
We have other positive news to share – including stories about a heroic Worker/Driver operator, our Drivers of the Year, the upcoming March 3 service change, and changes to the online Bremerton Fast Ferry schedules.
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1. Kitsap Transit pauses expansion of Sunday bus service
Kitsap Transit bus riders have frequently requested Sunday service since it was suspended in 2009, and we were pleased to be able to reintroduce it in Bremerton last September. On Feb. 14, we announced that Sunday bus service would start in three more communities across Kitsap County on March 10. However, that expansion is now on pause while the agency considers the potential short- and long-term impacts of a ballot initiative that would repeal the state’s Climate Commitment Act.
2. Worker/Driver operator uses car to block traffic, assist downed motorcyclist
In December, Worker/Driver operator Mike Babcock was driving his daughter to a doctor’s appointment when he witnessed a motorcycle accident. Babcock leaped into action, using his personal vehicle to block traffic in front of the motorcyclist – who turned out to be another shipyard employee, and one of Babcock’s bus riders.
3. Celebrating Kitsap Transit’s 2023 Drivers of the Year
At the beginning of each year, we recognize the top operators across our three bus services with Driver of the Year awards. Our Drivers of the Year are folks who have demonstrated a commitment to safety and customer care that reflects our mission to provide reliable public transportation to Kitsap County residents. Join us in congratulating them!
4. Spring service change begins March 3
For this service change, we are making several small timepoint changes on Central and North Kitsap routes to improve connections with other routes and better align with ferry arrivals and departures.
5. Bremerton Fast Ferry online schedules get a visual update
Last month, we updated the Bremerton Fast Ferry schedule table on our website to improve readability and accuracy and clarify the status of temporary state-funded sailings.