kitsaptransit – Pacific Maritime Magazine

08 Oct

Kitsap Transit Nets $1.2 million for Electric Ferry Design, Demo

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbiekerboats, ferries, glosten, kitsaptransit

Seattle-based Kitsap Transit is anticipated to receive $1.2 million toward the design of an electric-powered fast ferry demonstration and shoreside charging infrastructure, it was announced Sept. 18. The grant adds to the $4 million Washington state Legislature grant that is expected to fund the design of the demo ferry, envisioned by Kitsap Transit as “a scaled-down version” of the Glosten and Bieker Boats-designed 150-passenger foil vessel. The vessel demonstration seeks to show the technology’s viability, which if successful could pave the way for the first all-electric hydrofoil fast ferry to be in service on Puget Sound, according to the transit…

24 Sep

Kitsap Transit Secures $13.5 Million for New Fast Ferry

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, fta, kitsaptransit

Kitsap Transit may soon be able to replace an aging ferry operating its Kingston-Seattle route with the help of federal funding. The Washington-based transportation organization is expected to receive $13.5 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s Passenger Ferry Grant program toward the purchase of a new fast ferry, covering almost 80% of the $17.5 million project, it was announced Sept. 11. Kitsap Transit would underwrite about $4 million of the project. “This funding allows us to buy a new boat to operate a route that has been running with a backup vessel – m/v Finest – that is older and…

06 Aug

Kitsap Transit to Run 2 Routes Without Spare Vessels

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, kitsaptransit

Seattle area public transit agency Kitsap Transit said July 30 that it has pulled two vessels for service, leaving the fast-ferry service on the Kingston/Seattle and Southworth/Seattle routes without spare vessels. The agency told passengers to anticipate canceled sailings in the event that the M/V Finest and M/V Solano need to be serviced. “We realize this isn't good news, but safety has to be our first priority,” Kitsap Transit Executive Director John Clauson said. “We want to give our customers the information they need to plan their travel accordingly.” The M/V Enetai and M/V Commander are both out of service…

16 Jan

Kitsap Transit Sees 33% Annual Increase in Ferry Ridership

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsferries, kitsaptransit

More than 1 million passengers rode Kitsap Transit ferries in 2023, a 33% increase from the previous year, the transit agency announced Jan. 5. The gains in ridership stemmed from its three “cross-sound fast ferry routes” to and from the Kitsap Peninsula and downtown Seattle, with the Bremerton/Seattle route showing a 54% jump from 2022, Kitsap said. The Kingston/Seattle route showed a 37% spike in ridership, while ridership rose by 49% on the Southworth/Seattle route, with average passenger loads per sailing rising 35% on the Kingston service and soaring 41% on the Southworth service, the agency said. “We are proud…