More Bus Service on the Chopping Block, This Time at Kitsap Transit

The Kitsap Sun reports more bad news as bus service around the state continues to face the chopping block of devastating service cuts. Local transit agencies are in crisis mode across the urban, rural, and suburban counties in Washington.

The article does a good job articulating the difference between operating and capital dollars, highlighting that while the State and Feds help with capital expenses their operating funds (funded by volatile local sales tax) are falling into a tailspin.

Because operating and capital funds come from different pots and can’t be interchanged, service development director John Clauson explained Tuesday during the first of 12 public meetings about $900,000 in proposed service cuts.

“Unfortunately, the money used for the ferry and construction of Charleston (bus barn) are capital grants,” he said. “We don’t have the option to use them for operating funds.”

The transit funding crisis continues to spread across the state as riders are stranded on the side of the road. Solutions are needed now and ball in the Legislature's court.


Kitsap Transit buses in jeopardy.