Kitsap Transit cuts bus service amid COVID-19 outbreak

This story has been updated.

Cuts to Kitsap Transit bus service scheduled to go into effect April 6 will instead begin Wednesday because of a shortage of bus drivers.

Kitsap Transit announced Monday that it would cut bus service by more than 30% beginning next week because of a significant drop in ridership. But the agency is moving that timeline forward after a wave of bus drivers called out of work Tuesday.

Approximately 30 bus drivers are out as of Tuesday afternoon, Kitsap Transit executive director John Clauson. Many of those employees chose to stay home and self-quarantine because they fall into the "high-risk" category for severe illness from COVID-19.

"We always promote family first, so I certainly respect each one of them and their decisions to protect themselves," Clauson said.

Clauson added that Kitsap Transit will continue to monitor both bus and ferry service daily and could make further cuts if more employees decide to stay at home.

Eight bus routes will be suspended and remaining routes will operate less frequently, according to a statement from Kitsap Transit. No cuts will be made to local or fast ferry service.

The cuts were made in response to a significant drop in ridership over the last month due to social-distancing measures and Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order.

“We really don’t want to drive buses around empty, it’s not fiscally responsible,” Clauson said.

Weekday boardings on routed buses are down 83% since the last week of February, according to the statement. Total weekday boardings systemwide are down 90% from the same time last year, Clauson said.

“We’re certainly supporting the governor’s directive, and that is ‘Use it when you have to,’” Clauson said. “But we’re also recognizing that there’s a segment of our community that is very transit-dependent and they need transit to get to the grocery store, get to healthcare.”

The suspended routes are:

Route 22 – Gateway Express

Route 81 – Annapolis Commuter

Route 91 – Kingston/Bainbridge

Route 92 – Kingston/Suquamish

Route 229 – Trenton Commuter

Route 234 – Kitsap Mall/Bangor

Route 333 – Silverdale/Bainbridge

Route 338 – Gateway/Bainbridge Express

The reduced-service schedule is based on schedules Kitsap Transit runs on Saturdays and during other emergencies like snowstorms, Clauson said. Kitsap Transit will issue refunds to riders who bought monthly passes for April.

In addition to routed buses, Kitsap Transit is restricting capacity on all ferry sailings to 46 passengers and worker/driver buses to 22 passengers. ACCESS service is operating normally. Healthcare workers, first responders and employees at other essential businesses impacted by the service reductions can call 360-479-7272 and arrange a ride.

Other transit agencies in the Puget Sound region have slashed service in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Over the weekend, Washington State Ferries announced it would reduce both the Bremerton-Seattle and Bainbridge Island-Seattle routes to one-boat service. Sound Transit and King County Metro have also made cuts.

Earlier this month, Kitsap Transit waived fares on all buses and ferries, suspended the use of its reservation system on the Bremerton-Seattle fast ferry route, and offered priority boarding to healthcare workers and first responders.

“It’s really necessary critical transportation is what we’re trying to provide,” Clauson said.

You can see a complete Kitsap Transit’s service changes here.