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Kitsap Transit says park‑and‑ride projects are based on long‑range planning despite current low occupancy
Summary
Board members questioned the need for new park‑and‑ride construction after local observations of emptier lots; Kitsap Transit staff said occupancy is monitored, demand is returning post‑COVID and some projects (Ruby Creek and Day Road) address future growth and formalize ad‑hoc facilities.
Several board members raised questions during the April 1 meeting about new park‑and‑ride projects after reports from constituents that many lots appear underused.
Councilmember Mokwa said multiple residents had observed empty park‑and‑rides and asked whether monitoring had confirmed the need for planned projects. John Clausen, Executive Director, replied the agency continuously monitors park‑and‑ride occupancy and acknowledged a post‑COVID shift in demand that is beginning to recover. He said two projects in active planning—Ruby Creek Park‑and‑Ride (often referenced as a South Kitsap location) and the Day Road Park‑and‑Ride on Highway 305 on Bainbridge Island—have long lead times and are being built for future need as well as current demand.
Clausen said the Day Road project will replace an ad‑hoc gravel lot and Ruby Creek is intended to address constrained parking at Molineux and nearby lots. A board member requested staff share the occupancy monitoring results, and staff agreed to provide a link to monitoring data to board members for review.
Board members noted the regional benefit of strategically located lots that enable carpooling and feeder service; staff emphasized that some park‑and‑rides also serve non‑transit carpool users and broader traffic mitigation goals.
The board did not take formal action but instructed staff to provide monitoring data to members and continue with long‑range planning steps for the referenced projects.
