Jefferson Transit – Public Invited to Meet Finalists for General Manager Position

Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
The Jefferson Transit Authority Board, with assistance from the Washington State Department of Transportation, will be hosting two opportunities for community members to meet the top candidates for the position of General Manager. These include an informal reception at the Bishop Victorian Hotel located at 714 Washington Street in Port Townsend on April 5, 2010 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. and a panel interview at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship located at 2333 San Juan Ave in Port Townsend on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Both events will provide opportunities for those who attend to provide written comments to the Jefferson Transit Authority Board about the finalists for the position. For more information call 360.385.4777.

Jefferson Transit to hold open houses about new routes changes coming April 11th

Jefferson Transit will be holding two open houses—one in Port Townsend and one in Port Hadlock—in the coming week to let the public know about the new route changes going into effect on April 11th. Both open houses will be from 5:30-7:30 pm with the Port Townsend one on March 18th at the Marina Room at Point Hudson. The second one will be March 23rd at the Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock. Both are free to the public. “The open houses are a great opportunity for people to find out about the new route changes,” said Mike Pollack, Interim General Manager for Jefferson Transit. “These new routes are a significant change that makes it much easier for our local community to get around, to get to work and become more ‘Green’. We welcome everyone to attend one of the open houses and learn how this can positively affect your life.” Maps and schedules of the new routes will be available, as well as staff from Jefferson Transit to answer questions. In addition, transit staff will demonstrate Internet-based Google Transit for individuals to determine the best way for them to get from “Point A to Point B.” Some of the advantages the new routes will provide to the community include extended service hours on some routes, fewer transfers between buses, easier commuting (the new schedules match start and quit times of most major employers), and more service to downtown and uptown. For more information, go to www.jeffersontransit.com or call 360.385.4777. Jefferson Transit is a public transit system that began service in May 1981 after a successful vote by Jefferson County citizens in 1980. Jefferson Transit operates as a Public Transportation Benefit Area in the State of Washington.

Jefferson Transit Extends Saturday Morning Poulsbo Service for Four Weeks

When Jefferson Transit staff heard that Kitsap Transit had proposed to cut connecting service in Poulsbo on Saturdays, it didn’t take long to come up with a plan to maintain vital connections until a service adjustment could be made in January. Jefferson Transit staff members first heard about a Kitsap Transit service reduction effective December 13 on December 6. The information passed by word of mouth from riders to drivers to administrative staff members. The service cut eliminates two of the existing 8 round trips on Saturdays on the Kitsap Transit #90 Poulsbo/Bainbridge service. Coincidentally, these two eliminated trips are the only trips on that route that connect with Jefferson Transit’s #7 service between Port Townsend and Poulsbo. In addition, cuts to Kitsap Transit’s #32 Poulsbo/Silverdale schedule will have some adverse effects on Jefferson Transit connections.

By mid-morning the following Monday, a plan had been made to extend the #7 route on Saturday mornings all the way to the Bainbridge Island Ferry terminal until a service adjustment in January once again makes it possible to have efficient connections from Port Townsend to Poulsbo to Bainbridge and back on Saturdays. “We realized that this was just about the worst time of year to lose this connection. Many people depend on those trips to get to and from the airport, especially during the holiday season. We needed to act fast in order to keep our riders happy”, reported Jefferson Transit’s general manager Dave Turissini. The #7 will run morning service from Port Townsend to the ferry terminal on Bainbridge Island on the following dates:

Saturday, December 19
Saturday, December 26
Saturday, January 2
Saturday, January 9

The regularly scheduled Saturday #7 departure will leave from the Haines Place Park-and-Ride at 8:20 AM, as it does now, and continue on to the Bainbridge Island Ferry terminal. It will make one stop in Poulsbo at the Poulsbo Transfer Center at 9:40 AM and will arrive at the ferry terminal at 10:05 AM. That same vehicle will then depart the ferry terminal for its return trip to Port Townsend at 10:15 AM, stopping at the Poulsbo Transfer Center at 10:35 AM and arriving back at Port Townsend at its regularly scheduled time of 11:49 AM. There will be no changes to the regularly scheduled Saturday afternoon service that departs Port Townsend at 3:22 PM; however, this bus will not connect with any Kitsap Transit Services upon arrival in Poulsbo. This bus will accept transfers from Kitsap Transit #90 as it does now. Passengers should note that the only way to get beyond Poulsbo on Saturdays using Jefferson Transit between December 19 and January 9 is to use the 8:20 AM #7 Port Townsend departure. After January 19 Jefferson Transit will operate a modified schedule that will restore connections with remaining Kitsap Transit services.

For further information, please contact Jefferson Transit directly at 385-4777.

Jefferson Transit Public Hearings December 15

There will be two public hearings at the next regular meeting of the Jefferson Transit Authority Board to take comment regarding a proposed service change in April, 2010 and the proposed Operating and Capital Budgets for 2010. Materials for these two subjects can be found at http://www.jeffersontransit.com/ The Authority Board meeting will be held at the Port Townsend Fire Station training room, located 701 Harrison St., Port Townsend, at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 15. For more information, please call 385-4777.

Jefferson Transit Public Meetings September 9

Jefferson Transit will hold three public meetings to discuss and receive feedback about proposed route changes.
Jefferson Transit’s comprehensive service planning process of last year has been blended with a plan to streamline service. The current service design, which Jefferson Transit proposes to implement in January of 2010, reflects community input from previous meetings, surveys and customer comments. Before the current revision of the service plan is approved by the Jefferson Transit Authority Board in October, Transit staff will conduct three more public meetings and a public hearing. Maps and proposed change summaries can be found at our web site.
The public meetings will be:

• Wednesday, September 9, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Pope Marine Building in Port Townsend (next to the Police Station on Water St.)
• Wednesday, September 9, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the Just Ask Rental training room, across Ness’ Corner Road from Hadlock Building Supply.
• Wednesday, September 9, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Pope Marine Building

Please call us with questions or if you require special arrangements for transportation to the meeting.

385-4777
www.jeffersontransit.com

Hood Canal Bridge Closed - Where Can I Get Info?

On May 1, 2009, at 12:01 AM, the Hood Canal Bridge was closed to traffic for an estimated six weeks.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is managing the project and has a project website at HoodCanalBridge.com. The site includes links to a travel options page, an interactive transit map, a printable travel options map, the schedule and reservation protocol for the special Edmonds-Port Townsend twilight ferry, and a Bridge closure blog for the public.

You can also get updated traffic information on the project traffic webpage and sign up for email traffic alerts about situations as they develop on alternate routes such as US 101 and SR 3.

Visit the project Flickr page for pictures of the construction work, including the removal of old Bridge sections.

For local information related to the closure and travel options, visit JeffConnections.com and see the "Discover Your Own Backyard" closure survival guide published by The Leader newspaper. Jefferson Transit also has a printable two-page pamphlet concerning the closure.

Intersection Status:

The intersection of Paradise Bay Road and SR 104 just west of the Bridge will be in operation during the closure. However, SR 104 will be closed 1.2 miles west of the Bridge, between Scenic View Lane and Garten Road, so that WSDOT can install a new culvert. The preferred route for detoured traffic will be SR 19 to Oak Bay Road to Paradise Bay Road. Local traffic may choose others routes, keeping in mind that SR 104 will be closed at that location (milepost 12.7).

Disability-for-a-Day 2009

On April 22, 2009, the local Disability Awareness Starts Here (DASH) organization coordinated the 7th annual Disability-for-a-Day event.

The County Auditor, County Administrator, and County Transportation Planner were among the participants who volunteered to experience a simulation of what it is like to try to get around town with a disability. A County Planning Commissioner, the Chair and a member of the Port Townsend Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Board (PT NMTAB), and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) State Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator also participated.

From DASH's description of the event on its website:

Each participant has his or her sight or mobility limited in some fashion and will then spend the day completing a list of real-life tasks, including evaluating designated emergency points of refuge in and around Port Townsend [and Port Hadlock], riding the bus, and walking or wheeling along the city’s streets and sidewalks.

The simulated disabilities included blindness, macular degeneration, condition of the legs requiring use of a wheelchair, leg and feet condition requiring the use of a walker, and condition preventing or limiting the use of a hand or arm. Guides included disabled and able-bodied DASH Board members and other volunteers. Teams of participants set out on missions to get to and from specific points of business or other landmarks. Some utilized the Jefferson Transit system.

Read the April 23 article in the Peninsula Daily News for descriptions of the event and quotes from organizers and participants.

My story...

For my part, I was provided a walker (without wheels) and "maimed" in the following way: left leg brace, purposely uncomfortable shoe liner for my right foot, oven mitt-style for my right hand packed with packing pellets (that limited use of my dominant hand and cause it to stay in a state of sweat for several hours), and a pair of sunglasses with large red spots to simulate macular degeneration. (Click on the photo above that Marion Huxtable took for a closer look.) I will attest that this combination was effective in making it uncomfortable and awkward to get around. In other words, it worked.

I was with a group of four. The other participant, Bill Miller of the Planning Commission, had a blindfold and a cane. Our two guides were DASH Board President Lynn Gressley, who has been blind for 30 years, and DASH Board member Marion Huxtable, who is also active in transportation-related community initiatives. Thank you to our guides for keeping us safe and providing us with an eye-opening experience! (Bad pun here, I suppose. Sorry!)

We walked (i.e., stumbled around) from the hospital to the Transit bus stop on Upper Sims Way adjacent to the QFC plaza. Coincidentally, a person in a wheelchair boarded the bus when we did, and remarkably, another person in a wheelchair boarded at the County Libary in Port Hadlock. We got off at the Post Office in Hadlock and after checking out that facility from the perspective of a disabled person, walked toward the Hadlock crossroads (intesection of State Route 116, Irondale Road and Chimacum Road) and made our way to the opposite corner. By guiding Lynn across this four-way stop controlled intersection, I was able to learn how a facility that may function well enough for motor vehciles, at the same time may be dangerous and disorienting for disabled pedestrians.

We then visited the Valley Tavern and spoke with the owner, Chuck Russell, who told us that some of his regulars are wheelchair users. The next mission was to cross the intersection again and walk along Nesses Corner Road (SR 116) all the way to Rhody Drive (SR 19), cross without the benefit of a crosswalk, and continue north to the Transit stop in front of Fiesta Jalisco.

That's a fair amount of walking for a fully-abled person in good shape and in comfortable shoes. The most discomfort for me was in my right foot--courtesy of the lumpy shoe liner--and in my wrists from continually moving and leaning on the walker. (Did I mention that my walker had no wheels?)

Experiencing mobility challenges from the perspective of my set of simulated disabilities, Bill's faux blindness and Lynn's real blindness was enlightening. Though it is in the realm of my job as a transportation planner to pay attendtion to things like road shoulders, sidewalks, curbs, driveways, intersection crossings, and the like, it is another thing to actually experience the difference an inch or two, or a pothole or other obstacle here and there, can make to a disabled person attempting to negotiate these faciliies. Then there are issues with buildings, such as door widths and bathroom dimensions. I am resolved to convert my participation in this event into experiential wisdom that will be reflected in future county transportation planning and improvement projects.

We already have plans to develop a Tri-Area non-motorized transportation network plan. The need for this plan to include input from the disabled community is paramount, particularly because, according to DASH Board member Marion Huxtable:

The 2005-2007 census (American Community Survey) shows that Jefferson County has a larger than average percentage of people with disabilities and people older than 65. Ten percent of children aged fived through 15, 17.6% of people aged 16 through 64 and 33.8 % of over 65’s have a disability. Twenty one percent of the population is over 65. The percentage of older adults in the county appears to be growing and so the percentage of people with disabilities is also growing.
This includes all kinds of disabilities. It seems shocking to me. It is a lot of people to accommodate with transportation.

The Tri-Area non-motorized network plan will concentrate on users of the local transportation system other than motorists. This "complete streets" notion pays express attention to various types of pedestrians--including wheelchair users, sight-impaired, elderly and children--as well as bicyclists and public transit users. The non-motorized network plan will supplement and enhance the transportation improvement project priorization effort Public Works is currently managing for the Quimper Peninsula, as well as the SR 19/20 corridor plan that WSDOT is coordinating. The next step is to identify possible funding sources and acquire the funds to carry out the Tri-Area non-motorized network planning process.

The bottom line is that I had a valuable learning experience yesterday and that I aim to improve future transportation plans and projects as a result. Thanks to DASH for the invitation!

JeffConnections - new local site

"JeffConnections" (jeffconnections.com) is a new local Web site with the monniker:

Port Townsend and Jefferson County's source for transportation and event news.

The focus of the site currently is the upcoming six-week Hood Canal Bridge closure beginning May 1, 2009.

The site features bridge closure news updates, links to a wide variety of local transporation and community information sources, transit and ride share information, a discussion forum, transportation-related blogs, and photos and video.

Users may sign up for an RSS feed, e-newsletters, or to be a "JeffConnections blogger." The site will offer various options for those who desire real-time news updates of road and transit conditions during the Bridge closure.

The site is managed principally by the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader. Information on the site is coordinated through a local Hood Canal Bridge closure steering committee.

The site may continue after the Bridge closure as a clearinghouse for transport information.

Smart Trips Workshop 1/23/09

From the Sponsors' Event Flyer...

Jefferson Smart Trips -

A Visioning Workshop

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Friday, January 23, 12- 2 p.m.
Masonic Hall, Jefferson & Van Buren, Port Townsend

Featuring

Vicki Steigner for WA State Dept. of Transportation

Dave Turissini for Jefferson Transit

Josh Peters for Jefferson County

Rick Sepler for City of Port Townsend

What could a Smart Trips program look like in Jefferson County?

Whatcom Smart Trips uses an innovative rewards campaign to get people walking, biking, sharing rides, and taking the bus. Although the Whatcom Smart Trips program is designed for the Bellingham metropolitan area, we could be the test case for a program in a rural area. Our goal would be to decrease congestion in the SR 19/20 Corridor. The program would dovetail well with the new commuter-oriented bus routes being planned by Jefferson Transit. We need to figure out better ways to incorporate bicycles with buses, to encourage use of park-and-rides, and promote transit and ride-sharing alternatives for trips between Port Townsend, Port
Hadlock and points further south (particularly ferries). Here are a few more ideas:

Walk
Installing complete streets, more trails and better interconnections

Bike
Bike commuting classes
Free bike repairs and tune-ups

Share a Ride
Promoting Rideshare Online for commuters
Providing Emergency Ride Home for commuters
Subsidizing the Vanpool program
Developing a Community Car Share program

Ride the Bus
Improving routes on Jefferson Transit, especially for commuters
Relieving congested sections of SR 19/20 corridor
Subsidizing transit passes for employees
Better provisions for bicycles, on-board folding bikes

Exhibits: Come early at 11:30 a.m. to learn more about folding bicycles, ride-sharing programs, walking and biking trails, and proposed transit commuter routes.

Sponsored by the Transportation Lab, Local 20/20 & Jefferson Transit

Contact 360-385-6579 or info@JeffersonCAN.org

For complimentary transportation to meeting, call Jefferson Transit at 360-385-4777

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PRESS RELEASE

January 14, 2009

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JEFFERSON SMART TRIPS – A VISIONING WORKSHOP
Joining forces to reduce congestion

A public workshop on January 23 will offer a look at a program of innovative alternatives for getting around East Jefferson County efficiently. Whether commuting on State Route 19/20 or taking a shopping and entertainment trip, Smart Trips can help. Successful implementation of a Smart Trips program in this area will provide choices beyond reliance on a single-occupancy vehicle (SOV).

The Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) is in the beginning stages of planning to address safety and congestion issues along the SR 19/20 corridor from SR 104 to the Port Townsend ferry. Traffic forecasting for the year 2031 shows that during the "peak hour," which is generally 4:30-5:30 p.m., we could see 50-70% more traffic volume on the State Routes and 60-75 % more traffic at the major intersections along the corridor.

Traditional solutions to this type of volume-to-capacity problem have involved additional travel lanes and traffic signals. Widening the highway may not be what this community desires for the future. If we are to create an alternative solution to our challenge, it must involve transportation demand management (TDM), including innovative programs like Smart Trips, which help reduce the number of SOV’s on the roadways. The sponsors of this workshop, with the support and encouragement of DOT, are undertaking to bring a Smart Trips program to Jefferson County.

Vicki Steigner of DOT will present the Smart Trips program as pioneered in Whatcom County as a strategy for reducing congestion and increasing safety on Highway 19/20. Ms. Steigner will show how the program has significantly increased ride-sharing, transit use, van-pooling, walking and bicycling in four years.

Dave Turissini of Jefferson Transit will present possibilities for commuter routes and Park & Ride locations as part of the effort to reduce congestion.

Josh Peters for Jefferson County and Rick Sepler for the City of Port Townsend will facilitate discussions about the transportation alternatives needed to help commuters, residents and visitors get where they need to go in the next couple of decades without facing gridlock on the highway. The workshop discussion will generate ideas for putting together a Smart Trips program suited to East Jefferson County.

Port Townsend Transportation Lab, Local 20/20 and Jefferson Transit are co-sponsoring the Jefferson Smart Trips Visioning Workshop. If you are concerned about gas prices, want to reduce the congestion on the roads and reduce your carbon footprint, Smart Trips can help.

The workshop will take place on January 23 from Noon to 2 p.m. at the Masonic Hall located at Jefferson and Van Buren Streets. As a lead-in to the workshop, information will be available at 11:30 a.m. about a variety of alternative transportation modes including Jefferson Transit’s proposed commuter routes, folding bikes for convenient use on Transit, walking and bicycling in Jefferson County and how to use rideshare online and van-pooling.

For complimentary transportation to the workshop, call Jefferson Transit at 360-385-4777. For information, contact Marion Huxtable at 379-9527.

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Jefferson Transit Service Planning - Additional Community Meetings

Following a public hearing at the November meeting of the Jefferson Transit Authority Board, Jefferson Transit staff will hold several additional community meetings in Jefferson County to discuss the proposed comprehensive service plan. The meetings will be held at the following locations:

Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Avenue, Port Hadlock
Wednesday, December 17th, 1:30 AND 6:30 p.m.

Port Townsend Community Center Main Room (upstairs)
Tuesday, January 6th, 6:15 p.m.
Tuesday, January 13th, 1:00 p.m.

Port Ludlow Beach Club, 121 Marina View Drive, Port Ludlow
Monday, January 12th, 2:15 p.m.

Your comments on service planning changes are welcome!

Please call us at 385-4777 if you require special transportation arrangements to the meeting.

Drawings will be held at each meeting for three monthly passes.

Jefferson Transit looking to prioritize commuter trips with new service plan

Jefferson Transit is considering a significant service plan switch that would prioritize commuter trips. Buses would begin earlier in the day in order to help riders get to work in the morning, and extend into the evening to help them get home after work. In addition to new early and late trips that would allow, for example, connections with early and late ferries to and from Seattle, the Port Townsend Shuttle, Castle Hill, Fort Worden and North Beach routes would be consolidated into two new connector routes that would connect neighborhoods and Castle Hill through passes uptown and downtown.

For more information, visit the "Public Information" section of the Jefferson Transit website.

With respect to the creation of a vibrant commute trip reduction program for our community, this service plan switch is a key component. The next step is to encourage employers to take advantage of tax breaks and other opportunities to put monthly bus passes into the hand of the employees.

For more information about commuter incentive programs, start here at Commuter Choice, a program funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency.