PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson Transit is considering cutting Sunday bus service to Poulsbo and running a bus to the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal.
Kitsap Transit plans to cut Sunday service to Poulsbo, where riders make connections from the Jefferson Transit bus, on Feb. 15.
The Jefferson Transit board is expected to make a final decision about continuing Sunday service between Port Townsend and Poulsbo on Jan. 20, after a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. at the Port Townsend Fire Hall, Lawrence and Harrison streets.
A bus run from Jefferson County directly to the Bainbridge ferry terminal is one option to replace the Sunday service to Poulsbo, said Dave Turissini, Jefferson Transit’s general manager said.
“They never notified us formally. It really kind of tweaked me,” Turissini said.
The Kitsap Transit board decided to discontinue all of its Sunday service as part of major service cuts to overcome a $4.8 million deficit.
Instead of formal notice, Turissini said, dispatchers for Kitsap Transit informed his drivers who took Jefferson Transit passenger transfers in Poulsbo.
“We can’t just drop people off in the middle of nowhere,” Turissini said.
About 17 people on average use Sunday service, he said, with 92 percent riding through to Bainbridge Island.
After Feb. 15, Jefferson Transit will be the only public transit service providing Sunday service west of Puget Sound.
Clallam Transit does not offer Sunday service.
The loss of the Poulsbo service will mean using the resources in the Tri-Area loop instead of taking riders south to the Kitsap Peninsula on Sundays, he said.
Seattle connection
“Our most recent data show that most passengers traveling past the Tri-Area on Sundays are continuing on past Poulsbo, most likely to Seattle,” Turissini said.
“Since they now have no one to transfer to in Poulsbo, we could better utilize those resources providing service in the Tri-Area, where we know there is a demand.”
Sunday service still exists between Port Townsend and Seattle via Port Angeles-based Olympic Bus Lines, which provides two round trips a day, including Sundays.
Individuals who need to get to Kingston, Edmonds or Seattle can make reservations on Olympic Bus Lines by phoning 800-457-4492.
Riders using Olympic Bus Lines can use the Haines Place Park-and-Ride to leave their cars for extended parking.
Olympic Bus Lines, however, boards at the Port Townsend Safeway.
For more information about the potential change, phone Jefferson Transit at 360-385-4777 or Kitsap Transit at 800-501-7433.
Jefferson Transit cut less than Kitsap Transit, Turissini said.
Jefferson Transit cut $150,000 for lack of revenue from sales tax.
Jefferson Transit is “running bare bones,” with about 30 drivers.
He said 26 more drivers would be used during the six-week Hood Canal Bridge closure beginning May 1 to replace the bridge’s eastern half.
The drivers will be used for a temporary increase in service while the bridge is out.
“In light of Kitsap Transit’s recent schedule reduction, we had a flood of applications from Kitsap drivers who were laid off,” he said.
“We’re happy to have them.”
Turissini said Jefferson Transit finished 2008 with overall ridership rising by 9.7 percent, which was slightly lower than past years because gas prices decreased in the latter part of the year.
Public comment can be made at the Jefferson Transit office, 1615 W. Sims Way, Port Townsend, or by phoning toll-free 800-371-0497 or 360-385-4777.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
