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Kitsap Transit approves change order for Seattle-terminal environmental work contingent on Washington State Ferries support
Summary
The board authorized a $505,004 change order to KPFF to expand environmental work related to Pier 48 and the Seattle terminal, increasing the contract total to $5,652,562, and amended approval to require documented support from Washington State Ferries before staff proceeds.
Kitsap Transit’s Board of Commissioners on April 7 approved Resolution 26-22 to authorize Change Order 1 with KPFF Consulting Engineers to expand environmental work for a proposed permanent ferry terminal in downtown Seattle, including study work tied to the potential removal of Pier 48. The motion, as amended, conditions staff’s authority on receipt of a documented letter of support from Washington State Ferries.
The board was asked to approve an additional $505,004 for KPFF, raising the contract total to $5,652,562. Director John Closson said the added scope would allow Kitsap Transit to fund environmental analysis related to Pier 48 removal so the project can continue while Washington State Ferries pursues legislative funding to remove the pier. “This change order will allow us to expand the scope of KPFF to take on the responsibility of doing the environmental for the removal of the pier,” Closson said. He warned that delay could force the project back to square one and increase overall program costs.
Several commissioners urged caution about spending local transit dollars without written assurances from Washington State Ferries. One board member proposed, and the maker and seconder accepted, a friendly amendment making the change order contingent on documented WSF support. Closson agreed to secure and circulate the letter: “Absolutely,” he said when asked to provide the board a copy once obtained.
Staff explained the Federal Transit Administration had placed Kitsap’s process on hold after assumptions about Pier 48 changed, and that completing the environmental work now would keep the project viable and make any completed work transferable to WSF should they later fund pier removal. The director noted ongoing lobbying efforts to seek legislative funds to support pier removal in a future session.
Board members also discussed risks of proceeding without WSF as an active project partner and the potential to count Kitsap’s investment as local match toward future construction. The vote passed by voice after the amendment to require documented support; the transcript records the chair voting aye and the motion carrying.
Next steps: staff will seek a written letter of support from Washington State Ferries, proceed with the amended authority once received, and update the board when the letter is provided.
