ATMS for Kingston ferry route to be implemented by late summer

Project to be discussed at KCAC meeting April 9

By Tyler Shuey • April 2, 2025 1:30 am
Kitsap County Public Works courtesy image A rendering (not to scale) of the Active Traffic Management System that will be constructed this year along Highway 104 in Kingston to replace the current tally system used to manage traffic in the holding lane.
Kitsap County Public Works courtesy image A rendering (not to scale) of the Active Traffic Management System that will be constructed this year along Highway 104 in Kingston to replace the current tally system used to manage traffic in the holding lane.

A new Active Traffic Management System will replace the Kingston-Edmonds ferry boarding pass system and is expected to be implemented on Highway 104 this summer.

The project will build a ferry traffic holding lane on the shoulder of Highway 104 leading up to Lindvog Avenue. A stoplight will be installed at Lindvog Avenue for the holding lane, per Kitsap County Public Works. An ATMS uses a boarding pass and stoplight system to detect when there is space for vehicles to move to the toll booths. The light will signal green when vehicles can proceed. Operational days and times are being determined.

The design is complete, and all permits were obtained by the end of January, per the county. The project is in the bidding phase. Construction is expected to begin in late spring and be completed by the end of June. Following construction, operational testing will take place, with the system expected to be fully operational by late summer.

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Once construction is completed by Public Works, management of the system will be done by Washington State Ferries. The Kingston-Edmonds ferry route handles the second-highest annual volume of vehicles and drivers (over 2 million) and the third-highest volume of additional passengers (1.9 million) in the WSF system.

Currently, inbound traffic to the ferry terminal loads through the heart of Kingston, Village Center on Main Street, and exits along First Street. Ferry loading backups during peak times create traffic congestion, pedestrian circulation conflicts, air quality concerns from vehicle idling, and traffic circulation gridlock.

Kitsap County, Kitsap Transit, and the Port of Kingston worked with the state Department of Transportation and WSF to identify and implement improvements on Highway 104 to reduce traffic issues. The ATMS project is on the 2025-30 Transportation Improvement Program as priority No. 4.

The project will be discussed by Public Works and WSF staff at the April 9 Kingston Community Advisory Council meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. at Village Green Community Center.