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Seattle Fast Ferry Terminal Project
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For translation of this document, please call 1-800-501-7433 during regular business hours. Customer service staff will connect you with an interpreter. Para la traducción de este documento al español, llame al 1-800-501-7433 durante el horario regular de oficina. El personal de servicio al cliente lo contactará a un intérprete. 如需获取本文件的中文翻译，请在正常工作时间致电 1-800-501-7433. 客服人员将为您联系翻译人员. Para sa pagsasalin ng dokumentong ito sa Tagalog, mangyaring tawagan ang 1-800-501-7433 sa normal na oras ng trabaho. Ikokonekta ka ng kawani ng customer service sa isang tagapagsalin. Public HearingThe Kitsap Transit Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing for the Seattle Fast Ferry Terminal Project on July 15, 2025, at 8:30 AM or as soon thereafter as possible. The public will be able to attend the hearing in person or virtually via Zoom. Information and attendance instructions will be posted with the July 15, 2025, Board of Commissioners Meeting Agenda and will be available on our Transit Board landing page. A public comment period is established from June 27 to August 11, 2025. Written testimony, including email, must be received by 4:00 PM on the Monday prior to the hearing date (July 14, 2025) to be considered during the public hearing. Comments may be submitted to: Seattle Fast Ferry Terminal Project Join us at a Public Meeting!In addition to the Public Hearing, Kitsap Transit will be hosting several public meetings during the scoping period. These meetings are a key part of the scoping phase (June 27 – August 11, 2025) and the environmental review process, providing an important opportunity for you to provide input. Public meetings:
During these meetings, we’ll provide an overview of the project and explain the environmental review process. You’ll also have the chance to comment on the project’s purpose and need statement, as well as the topics to be evaluated in the environmental impact statement (EIS). If you’re unable to attend a public meeting, you may also provide comments during the scoping period by:
Your input is essential as we evaluate the potential environmental impacts of each site alternative and determine how best to meet the needs of Kitsap Transit riders and the community. OverviewThe Kitsap Transit Seattle Fast Ferry Terminal Project seeks to expand passenger-only ferry (POF) terminal capacity in downtown Seattle. Kitsap Transit’s ferry program is part of the Puget Sound regional passenger-only ferry system, providing an important link between the Kitsap Peninsula and downtown Seattle. Routes departing from Bremerton, Southworth, and Kingston currently share two slips at Pier 50 with King County Metro’s water taxi routes. Capacity at this shared facility is limited, which affects Kitsap Transit’s ability to provide reliable, on-time service that meets the needs of its passengers. A dedicated ferry terminal in downtown Seattle would improve the reliability and convenience of Kitsap Transit’s service. As part of the environmental review process, Kitsap Transit is evaluating three potential terminal sites on the Seattle waterfront based on the results of early scoping and preliminary site screening: Pier 46 North Apron (the north edge of the Terminal 46 property), Pier 48, and Pier 58.
Terminal Needs At each site alternative, the Project would include construction of the following elements:
What's Happening Now?Kitsap Transit is preparing for the environmental review process to evaluate the three potential terminal sites on the Seattle waterfront. During this stage, Kitsap Transit works closely with project partners and gathers the necessary information to begin the formal environmental review. The environmental review process will include preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) in collaboration with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The EIS process will begin as soon as mid-2025. Potential Terminal Sites The results from early scoping and preliminary site screening identified three sites on the Seattle waterfront that could support a long-term Fast Ferry terminal: Pier 46 North Apron, Pier 48, and Pier 58. These potential sites were informed by technical analysis and community input. Kitsap Transit received community input through outreach activities, including public meetings, tribal and inter-agency meetings, a public survey, and direct initial outreach to waterfront property owners and local agencies. Kitsap Transit plans to evaluate all three sites listed below during the environmental review process.
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Kitsap Transit Fast Ferry Routes Project DocumentsEarly Scoping Information Report Presentation, Early Scoping Public Meetings Preliminary Site Screening and Evaluation Summary Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement Project Contact Subscribe to the Seattle Fast Ferry Terminal Project email list |
What's Next?
Scoping: Mid-2025
The environmental review process will begin in mid-2025 with a formal scoping period. Scoping is a process that determines the range of issues and potential alternatives that will be addressed in the EIS. During this phase, Kitsap Transit will encourage agencies, Tribes, and the public to comment on the project’s purpose and need statement, as well as the topics to be evaluated in the EIS.
Draft EIS: Mid-2026
Informed by technical analysis and public comment received during the scoping phase, Kitsap Transit will develop a draft EIS. The draft EIS will outline the alternatives and provide information on the potential impacts of the project. Following publication of the Draft EIS, interested parties will have an opportunity to review the technical analyses and provide comments.
Final EIS: Mid-2027
Kitsap Transit will review and respond to comments received on the Draft EIS, and these will be included in the Final EIS. The Final EIS is anticipated to be completed in mid-2027. During and after this phase, Kitsap Transit will continue working closely with project partners.
Design
Upon completion of the environmental review process, Kitsap Transit plans to advance the design for the selected alternative, secure permits and necessary property rights, and construct the facility.
Project Timeline
How to Stay Involved
Get email updates on the project by subscribing to the Seattle Fast Ferry Terminal Project email list.
FAQs
Why does Kitsap Transit need a new downtown Seattle passenger-only ferry terminal?
Ridership on POF routes, including Kitsap Transit’s Fast Ferry service, is growing, as is interest in additional routes across the region. Pier 50, which is also the landing site for King County's two Water Taxis, can accommodate only two POFs at any one time.
The Seattle Fast Ferry Terminal Project will improve the reliability and convenience of this regional transit service by addressing the current shortage of POF landing site capacity on the Seattle waterfront. More discussion on the need for the project can be found in the Early Scoping Report and the Preliminary Site Screening and Evaluation Report.
Where might a potential downtown Seattle terminal site be located?
The Seattle Terminal Siting Study evaluated potential locations along the downtown Seattle Waterfront starting north at Pier 70 down to Pier 46 to the south. Of those locations, Pier 46 North Apron, Pier 48, and Pier 58 have been identified as potential terminal sites.
How were potential terminal locations selected?
Kitsap Transit completed the following steps to identify the three locations:
- Identify potential locations. The range of alternative sites considered in this study included properties along the downtown Seattle waterfront between Pier 46 and Pier 70.
- Define the physical and operational needs for the facility. The operational requirements and infrastructure needed to support KT’s current Fast Ferry service were used to define the minimum spatial requirements of an expanded KT Fast Ferry terminal, including the infrastructure and space needed for vessels, passengers, and crew.
- Establish screening criteria. Criteria were established to evaluate sites based on minimum physical and operational needs of a long-term POF terminal facility. Preliminary screening criteria reflect feedback from early scoping and discussions with interested parties.
- Conduct preliminary site screening. The alternative sites were evaluated against the established screening criteria: site use compatibility, terminal access and modal connections, and space for vessel programming and navigation.
Further assessment of alternatives will be based on Kitsap Transit’s long-term service needs and goals, environmental, cultural, and historical impacts, and community input.
What is the environmental review process?
The environmental review process aims to provide full and open consideration of potential environmental impacts from Project alternatives, including a comparison between alternatives and a no-build condition. The process will also inform decision-makers and the public on any measures to avoid or minimize adverse impacts or enhance the quality of the environment.
The environmental review process is being conducted in accordance with both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and will include a formal scoping comment period. This will allow agencies, Tribes, the public, and all other interested parties an opportunity to comment on the scope of analysis in the environmental impact statement and the range of alternatives.
What happened prior to site screening and evaluation?
In conjunction with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Kitsap Transit conducted early scoping. This was an optional step intended to invite input early in project planning. Scoping is a process that helps define and refine the project purpose and need, alternatives, and criteria used for evaluation of alternatives. Early scoping is an optional step that precedes formal scoping and is a first opportunity for the public to learn about a proposed project.
Early scoping for the terminal siting occurred within the context of the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations for complying with NEPA. The FTA was the lead agency under NEPA, and Kitsap Transit was the lead agency under SEPA.
Early scoping included a public comment period, during which Tribal governments, agencies, transit riders, property owners, businesses, community-based organizations, and all other interested parties were invited to comment on the project's draft purpose and need statement, and potential impacts and benefits to the community and environment that should be considered when developing and evaluating alternative site locations.
Previous Public Engagement
Engagement completed to date to support site screening included public meetings, tribal and inter-agency meetings, a public survey, and direct initial outreach to waterfront property owners and local agencies
During the early scoping period, Kitsap Transit and the Federal Transit Administration held two public meetings as well as a Tribal and inter-agency meeting.
Recordings of each meeting are available below, and the Presentation is available under Project Documents (right sidebar):
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