Randall, Cantwell, Murray Secure $15 Million for New Kitsap Transit Bus Driver Training Facility

BREMERTON, WA - Today, Congresswoman Emily Randall (D, WA-06) alongside U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Patty Murray (D-WA), vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $15 million in federal funding for Kitsap Transit to construct a new regional bus-driver training facility. The funding comes from the Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

"Investing in public transit is good for all of us - it means cleaner air, easier commutes to the doctor or to work, and growing our economy with living wage Union jobs," said Rep. Randall. "This new facility will provide world-class training to ease our bus driver shortage and help neighbors get where they need to go - whether that's a military family getting from Bangor to Bremerton, a high school student headed to work in Silverdale, or a senior getting to the grocery store."

"Investing in a dedicated bus operator training facility will help Kitsap Transit more efficiently train drivers and strengthen transit service across Western Washington," said Sen. Cantwell. "Kitsap Transit ridership is surging, with 3.3 million rides last year. This federal investment will help meet rising ridership demand while ensuring operators have the skills and resources they need to keep passengers safe."

"We know robust public transit means more foot traffic for small businesses, less congestion on our roads, and better connected communities-and a strong, well-trained transit workforce is foundational to keeping our communities and our economy moving," said Sen. Murray. "That's why I'm proud to help deliver $15 million for Kitsap Transit to construct a new bus-driver training facility that will support the needs of our bus drivers and dispatchers who make sure we all get to where we're going safely. Investments like this make a real difference in people's everyday commutes, and I'll keep working to deliver federal resources to Washington communities that need them most."

"Transit helps reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety, and promotes regional economic growth, but it doesn't work without a well-trained corps of bus drivers," said John Clauson, Kitsap Transit's Executive Director. "This training facility will help us recruit and retain outstanding bus drivers and dispatchers who provide safe, reliable service to passengers riding on transit in Kitsap County and beyond. It also gives us classroom space to train our mechanics who are critical to our vehicles' reliability."

Congresswoman Randall wrote a letter of support to DOT Secretary Sean Duffy in support of this funding. In the letter, Rep. Randall highlights that the new facility will help support military families and civilian workforces by improving transit services at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and Naval Base Kitsap.

According to Kitsap Transit, without a central dedicated training facility, new bus operators and dispatchers currently train in a scattered assortment of maintenance yards, classrooms, and office spaces that aren't reliably available or may require equipment from another location. There are also no dedicated bus-driver training facilities in Pierce, Mason, Jefferson, Clallam, or Lewis counties.

The current plans call for an 8.4-acre training site to be located on a vacant parcel in the Puget Sound Industrial Center next to an Amazon distribution center. Kitsap Transit is in the process of acquiring the property and plans to seek construction bids next year for a 10,000-square foot building that will include classrooms, a simulator training room, locker rooms, and office spaces.

More information about the project is available HERE.