Kitsap Transit breaks ground on Silverdale Transit Center

Kitsap Transit officials were joined by federal transit and state representatives at a groundbreaking ceremony for Silverdale Transit Center, which the agency calls the “missing link” in its bus network.

Kitsap Transit vehicles currently use a transfer center on a dead-end spur that the agency says poses potential safety risks for pedestrian access and accessibility.

The future Silverdale Transit Center will improve reliability and accessibility to transit services and enhance access and mobility in Silverdale, which is a designated regional growth center. The project also provides for a signalized intersection and crosswalk, reducing safety risks for pedestrians and motorists. The transit center also features a dedicated on-ramp for Kitsap Transit buses to travel southbound on SR 303.

Silverdale Transit Center will include up to eight bus bays, shelters, vehicle parking, stormwater management facilities, ADA accessible site improvements, sidewalks, bike lanes, bike storage and a bus driver comfort station.

“This project is yet another example of how we are reducing emissions that harm our planet, reducing pollution that harms our communities, and improving people’s ability to get to get to work and school,” said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. “Kitsap Transit in particular has been doing outstanding work to transition to clean fuels in buses and passenger ferries. Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to these efforts.”

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) provided grant funding of $4.5 million for right-of-way acquisition and $2.5 million toward construction; Kitsap Transit’s local contribution is $1.5 million for design and engineering and $4 million for construction and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provided nearly $10 million to support the project.

“This new transit center is a great step forward for Silverdale and the region,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “Replacing a smaller, less conveniently located facility with a community-centered new bus center means a better transit future for residents of Silverdale and the Kitsap Peninsula, connecting them with more jobs, education and healthcare options, along with friends and family.”

The transit center will be the first in western Washington state to feature automatic wireless charging of electric buses using in-ground charging technology developed by Momentum Dynamics. The agency explains this wireless charging technology will become more important as it transitions its fleet from clean diesel to electricity. Kitsap Transit now operates two electric buses and anticipates having a fleet of 30 electric buses by the end of 2024.

“Aside from being the first transit system in Western Washington to deploy Momentum’s flush mount in-ground charging technology, Kitsap Transit will be the first wireless charging installation, in the United States, that totally conceals the power electronics and switch gear into the design and removes the cabinets from the transit platform,” said Todd Daniel, director of Transit Solutions for Momentum Dynamics. “This unique design offers a ‘Clean Streets’ approach to battery electric vehicle charging and is truly innovative engineering.”

The new Silverdale Transit Center is expected to open in the fall of 2023.