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Kitsap Transit board approves redesign and construction‑management contracts as ferry propulsion plan shifts to hybrid
Summary
The board approved a design change order to convert a planned all‑electric passenger vessel to a plug‑in hybrid and authorized a construction‑management contract; commissioners voiced disappointment but staff cited evolving federal guidance and approvals from state authorities.
Kitsap Transit on June 2 approved a design change and construction‑management contract tied to a passenger vessel project after staff said federal guidance and other factors made a hybrid propulsion configuration necessary.
Board members adopted Resolution 2635 to approve change order number 7 with the vessel’s original designer (transcript uses several spellings for the firm) for additional design services. The packet and meeting discussion reported a change‑order amount of $695,000, increasing the total contract to $2,435,468. During debate, Commissioner Waltz said she was "so excited about an all electric boat" and called the conversion "personally disappointing," while staff said they are pursuing a plug‑in hybrid design so the vessel will operate electrically when shore power is available.
The board also voted to award the construction‑management contract needed to take the vessel to bid. Staff said the project has approximately $15,000,000 in grant and match funding and estimated about 18 months from contract award to vessel delivery; the construction‑management award amount cited in the transcript was $1,458,275.
Staff said the propulsion change reflects changing federal direction; Claussen said staff will do additional due diligence with federal lobbyists and the Federal Transit Administration and noted the state has already granted approval for the conversion. Commissioners asked for clearer analyses of what the change order covers and how much redesign work is required.
Why it matters: the decisions commit significant design and oversight dollars and shape propulsion and operating costs for a vessel expected to operate for decades. The board approved both measures by voice vote.
