Transportation Commission Office – PO Box 47308 – Olympia, WA 98504-7308
(360) 705-7070
Date: June 13, 2019
Contact: Reema Griffith, Transportation Commission Executive Director, 360-705-7070
Community leaders and local officials from Bremerton and the Kitsap Peninsula will meet with the Washington State Transportation Commission next week to share their perspectives on transportation issues, challenges, and successes. In addition, commissioners will discuss changes to ferry fares and fare policies, and release a proposal for public comment.
The commission meeting takes place at the Norm Dicks Government Center, Meeting Chambers, 345 6th St., Bremerton, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, and continues on Wednesday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a public meeting and persons wishing to speak to the commission may do so during the public comment periods listed on the agenda.
Tuesday morning, commissioners will tour transportation facilities and projects in Bremerton and Kitsap County, from Port Orchard to Kingston. Briefings on Tuesday afternoon will address the transportation challenges, needs and successes of Bremerton, Poulsbo, Port Orchard, Bainbridge Island and Kitsap County, and Kitsap Transit.
At 4 p.m. Tuesday, Washington State Ferries and the Ferry Advisory Committee on Tariffs will present their recommendations for ferry fare and fare policy changes. The proposal must ensure ferry fares raise the amount of revenue required by the current state transportation budget for ferry operations over the next two years, as well as generate the revenue necessary to help build a new ferry vessel.
On Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., the commission will discuss the ferry fare and fare policy recommendations presented to them on Tuesday, review input gathered at public meetings held throughout the month of May, and decide what its formal proposal of fare and policy changes will be. The commission will then release its proposal for public comment through the end of July.
Also on Wednesday, there will be presentations from the Washington State Department of Transportation on its projects and issues in the Kitsap region, followed by panel discussions on economic development and transportation and tourism, recreation and transportation. These panels will include a variety of perspectives including the United States Navy, the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, and ports.
The commission will hold a final hearing on the proposed ferry fare and fare policy changes 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, in the Puget Sound Regional Council Board Room, 1011 Western Ave., Suite 500, Seattle. Public comments gathered through July will be considered and persons will be able to testify at the hearing as well, before the commission takes final action.
The Washington State Transportation Commission holds meetings throughout the state each year to gain insight from local government, industry and citizens about transportation issues that affect their communities and region. This information helps the commission to develop transportation policy recommendations to the State Legislature and Governor that reflect the priorities of the people and local governments throughout the state of Washington. The commission will meet in Stevenson and in Federal Way later this year.
For more information on the transportation commission, please visit the commission’s web site: www.wstc.wa.gov
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information
Accommodation requests for people with disabilities can be made by contacting the WSDOT Diversity/ADA Affairs team at wsdotada@wsdot.wa.gov or by calling toll-free, 855-362-4ADA (4232). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request by calling the Washington State Relay at 711.
Title VI Statement to Public
It is WSDOT’s policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its federally funded programs and activities. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated, may file a complaint with WSDOT’s Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). For additional information regarding Title VI complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations, please contact OEO’s Title VI Coordinator 360-705-7090.