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Kitsap Transit board backs pivot from all-electric to hybrid for passenger ferry after FTA funding warning
Summary
Faced with a Federal Transit Administration deadline and the prospect of losing more than $7 million in grant funding, the board supported staff’s recommendation to change a planned all‑electric passenger-only ferry to a hybrid propulsion system and asked staff for follow-up cost analysis and conversion options.
Kitsap Transit’s Board of Commissioners on April 7 voted to support staff’s direction to change the propulsion plan for a federally funded passenger-only ferry from all-electric to hybrid after the Federal Transit Administration indicated it would withdraw more than $7 million in federal funds unless the propulsion system was changed.
Executive Director John Closson told the board the FTA required Kitsap Transit to choose an alternate propulsion configuration by the end of the week or risk losing the FTA grant. “If we do not change the propulsion system of that ferry from all electric to something like hybrid or diesel they’re going to be withdrawing their funds, which is 7 plus million dollars,” Closson said.
Service and capital development director Stephanie Lilly explained the agency is in a formal NEPA pause and that delaying the decision could prolong the environmental review and increase consultant costs; the NEPA clock can be extended while paused, but staff said moving forward now would allow consultants to work under the current contract price. Lilly noted the NEPA process for an over-water project requires an Environmental Impact Statement and timeline variability.
Board members expressed disappointment at losing the all‑electric option but agreed the funding risk made a hybrid alternative prudent. One commissioner asked for a formal memo and comparative cost analysis on the tradeoffs of switching propulsion, including lifecycle fuel savings and the potential modification cost to the existing design; staff agreed to provide that analysis if time allows. The board passed a motion of support to pivot to hybrid technology by voice vote; one commissioner later changed their vote to no on the record.
Staff said they will explore design changes to allow a future conversion back to plug-in electric power where feasible. Director Closson said the agency has design work already completed for an electric vessel and would seek to retain options for future electrification when funding and technology permit.
