The Kitsap Transit Board of Commissioners received an update on the agency’s proposed added service for the FIFA World Cup in Seattle and the fan zone in Bremerton this summer, as part of its Jan. 20 meeting.
“One thing that’s important to be aware of is the security lines will open three hours before kickoff time. So folks who are going over there to attend the games, we would expect some demand for our service, probably three to four hours before kickoff, “KT marketing and public information director Sanjay Bhatt said.
Bhatt said KT is proposing to add service only on gamedays from 9:30 p.m to midnight, with route 212 serving hotels in the Bremerton/Silverdale area as well as route 390 serving Poulsbo to Bainbridge Island from 9 p.m. to midnight. KT would also operate on-demand service from 8 p.m. to midnight to Bainbridge hotels.
KT is also proposing a game day shuttle serving only Wheaton Way and McWilliams Park & Rides, with the goal of reducing congestion in downtown Bremerton, including the fan zone, per KT.
“We want to try to reduce gridlock in downtown by encouraging folks to park at the park and rides and board a shuttle coming in downtown, as well as getting back ferry take-home busses in Bremerton, Port Orchard and Bainbridge, and of course, extending service of the Bremerton Fast Ferry and the Port Orchard Foot Ferry,” he said.
Bhatt said take-home buses will operate at ferry terminals, doing drop off only and not picking up passengers in an effort to streamline the movement of passengers. Regarding staffing, KT isn’t planning on hiring temporary staff and plans to use existing staff to operate the service, Bhatt said. The World Cup games will run from June 15 to July 6. Bhatt said KT has some budget limitations on how much bus service the agency can offer, and KT will try to leverage park and rides along route 212.
“The other thing that’s important to remember is we’re dependent a lot on Washington State Ferries to capture the load. Their vessels could carry 1,000 people, where our boats could carry 118, so we’ve got to put it in perspective and keep focused on Washington State Ferries as being a key component to this service,” KT executive director John Clauson said.
Bhatt said KT is working on updating information available online to help visitors navigate available transit services during game days, adding, “We’re working on signage to support wayfinding and digital displays so that folks can get real-time information,” he said. KT is also working on an open payment set to launch in the first quarter of this year, and plans to have transit ambassadors at the Bremerton Transportation Center to answer questions and assist visitors. For Bainbridge Island, hotels will be served by fixed-route buses during peak commute times and BI Ride during off-peak times, per KT.
