Headways Newsletter: August 2022
Anyone under 18 can ride Kitsap Transit services for free starting Sept. 1.
Welcome back to Headways! Unofficially, this is our In-The-Thick-of-Summer edition. We’ve got both good and bad news in this month’s newsletter: First, we’re excited to announce the new Youth Transit Pass, which will allow anyone 18 and under to ride our services (and those of our partner agencies across the Puget Sound) for free!
The bad news: We’ve been forced to suspend four routes once again due to an ongoing operator shortage. These four routes (184, 202, 229 and 338) have been canceled almost daily for the past few weeks. Our goal with the suspensions is to improve reliability across the rest of our system.
We’ll need more help, now and into the future. If you or someone you know is interested in working for Kitsap Transit, check out our employment page.
As always, you can stay up to date with all things KT by subscribing to Headways here.
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1. Introducing the Free Youth Transit Pass
Youth ride free on Kitsap Transit beginning Sept. 1! All you need to ride is a Youth ORCA card, available from your school or at Kitsap Transit’s customer service office. Scan the QR code, register your card and presto — you can ride buses, ferries and trains across the Puget Sound for free. Pretty sweet deal.
2. Four routes suspended during August service change
For our August service change, we suspended Routes 184, 202, 229 and 338. We adjusted timepoints and made minor route changes to several other routes. Click below for more details.
3. Kitsap Transit adds retention bonus, raises wages for bus operators
Starting in July, Kitsap Transit Routed and ACCESS operators will receive higher wages, plus progressive increases over the next three years and a retention bonus following a newly ratified contract between Kitsap Transit and ATU Local 587, the union that represents Kitsap Transit bus operators.
4. Get to Farmers Markets on transit!
Summer isn’t over yet! Kitsap County has a slate of excellent farmers markets spread out through the week and the county, and Kitsap Transit can help you get there. Happy shopping!
5. Bus operator wins Safe Driver of the Year Award for Pacific Region
Val Quill, Kitsap Transit’s most senior bus operator, has been selected as the 2022 Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year for the Pacific Region by the National Safety Council. The award recognizes outstanding drivers who have driven a significant number of miles and years behind the wheel without incurring a preventable crash.