POULSBO — Kitsap Transit’s newest Poulsbo route is also now its most popular.

Route 44 began in February with the intent of connecting downtown to College Marketplace and, by some measures, it’s done just that.

“The reaction’s been quite good,” said Steffani Lillie, Kitsap Transit’s service and capital development director.

The route debuted with 756 riders in February and increased to 952 total riders by June, surpassing the Lincoln Drive and Viking Avenue routes. In September, it totalled nearly 1,000 riders.

Lillie said although route 44 is gaining more new riders, the total ridership between the three routes has remained more or less the same. She said this is typical of new routes.

“Our ridership is growing on that (route) but at this point we’re not getting new ridership on that route,” Lillie said. “We do expect it to grow as it’s in service a little longer.”

Ridership growth stalled a bit between the three routes from June to September 2015, fluctuating from 2,612 to 2,466 riders.

Despite the lack of recent growth, Lillie said that February to September 2015 ridership is actually up 21 percent compared to the same timeframe in 2014.

Route 44 completes a loop every half hour — one of two routes in the entire county to do so. Its schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:25 a.m. to 7:50 p.m.; and Saturday from 10:25 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. Rides cost $2.

It begins at the Poulsbo transfer center on Highway 305 near Lincoln Road and makes stops at Front Street and Jensen Way, Lindvig Way and Viking Way, Olympic College, the medical center at Bond Road and Highway 305, and then back to the transfer center.

Steve Salvadori drives the afternoon route. He said it’s been a hit.

“It’s grown a lot since its inception,” Salvadori said. “The local residents absolutely love it.”

Salvadori said it’s the timeliness that’s driving the route’s popularity. For instance, the bus makes three stops at Olympic College every hour for a total of 36 per day.

“We’re starting to see a lot more numbers up there,” Salvadori said of the ridership.

He said the high frequency is convenient for riders to connecting to another route because it can significantly cuts down on their wait time.

“They can catch all the buses without being late,” Salvadori said. “They wait 5 minutes or less for the next bus if they time it right.”

Sue Callister has lived in Poulsbo for 10 months. Salvadori said she rides the bus 3-4 times a week.

“It is the greatest thing the bus system ever did,” Callister said. She said it’s a fine option for older residents and people with disabilities.