Kitsap Transit’s board of commissioners has approved the purchase of a dozen new ACCESS buses.

All of the new buses will run on propane.

Officials with the transit agency said the new buses will replace 12 older ones in Kitsap Transit’s motor pool that are at the end of “their useful life.”

A total of $1,550,000 has been approved for the purchase of the new vehicles — six 22-foot and six 26-foot propane ACCESS buses.

The cost per bus is $129,000, which includes applicable taxes and fees. Local funds will be used to buy the buses.

The buses will be purchased through Creative Bus Sales in Mukilteo, using the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services contract.

Commissioners approved the purchase at their Tuesday, Jan. 7 meeting.

Funding for the acquisition had been included in Kitsap Transit’s 2020 Capital Budget-Transit Fund.

Kitsap Transit’s ACCESS program is a shared ride paratransit service used by qualified passengers who are unable to use Kitsap Transit’s regular fixed-route buses some or all of the time.

An application is required before riders can use the service, but officials note that ADA paratransit eligibility is not based solely on the presence of a condition or disability, but on how the condition or disability affects a rider’s ability to use the fixed-route service under all possible conditions.