SHINE — To get people across Hood Canal while the bridge is closed, Jefferson Transit boosted its staff by 41 and set up a new operation at the temporary 1,500-car Fred Hill Materials Shine Pit Park and Ride.
The state Department of Transportation will close Hood Canal Bridge on May 1 for six weeks to replace the eastern half.
Jefferson Transit’s new operation includes a bus-washing area and maintenance facilities and a fueling station compliments of Fred Hill Materials.
Up the hill from the gravel mining operation, drivers of a separate fleet of 17 buses leased from six other transit agencies will shuttle passengers 5.25 miles to the temporary South Point ferry terminal.
Port Angeles-based Victoria Express then will shuttle passengers across the canal from South Point to the Lofall dock in North Kitsap County and back. Starline Transportation will take passengers to the Port Gamble Park and Ride and other areas.
“We become the biggest transit agency in Jefferson County,” joked Mike Pollack, Jefferson Transit’s training manager, who was charged with setting up the Shine Pit operation.
Doubling in size
“We are doubling in size, which gives you an idea of how huge this is. We are creating a whole other operation.”
Pollack quipped that he is in charge of everything right down to garbage cans and the reserve supply of toilet paper for the portable toilets at the 10-acre park and ride.
Motorists can drive to the Shine Pit, which is south of state Highway 104, about 2 miles east of Center Road to Chimacum and the Olympic Gateway Visitor Center, where bicyclists will be picked up and taken to the park and ride.
A dedicated Jefferson Transit Paratransit bus will carry disabled passengers. Clallam Transit will run passengers from Port Angeles and Sequim, and private door-to-door Rocket Transportation also will drop riders off at the park and ride.
Pollack said he has no idea how many people will actually use the free park and ride to water shuttle service between Jefferson and Kitsap counties.
A 2004 state Department of Transportation survey is roughly based on the number of people who travel across the Hood Canal Bridge each day — between 15,000 and 20,000 daily.
“The one limiting factor is the ferry,” which will be able to carry up to 149 passengers, said Jefferson Transit Manager Dave Turissini.
The first bus leaves the Shine Pit terminal at 4:10 a.m. May 1 to catch the 4:25 a.m. water shuttle across Hood Canal.
“It will be just continuous demand service,” Turissini said.
The last ferry trip of the day will be at 10:35 p.m. from South Point.
There will be 100 daily bus trips, based on projected water shuttle ridership, Turissini said.
Pollack anticipates confusion at first.
“That’s why we are going to have extra people answering questions,” he said.
Bridge closure information can be found at www.hoodcanalbridge.com, www.jeffconnnections.com or www.jeffersontransit.com.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
