BREMERTON – Kitsap Transit has launched the second of two online community surveys to help guide development of its business plan and long-range strategy for passenger-only ferry service between Kitsap County and downtown Seattle.

Results from the June survey show two-thirds of the 1,300 survey respondents ride the ferries one to five or more days a week, and many agreed that a 35-minute trip on a passenger-only ferry service is important for access to jobs.

“After looking at terminal and vessel infrastructure needs, our next step is to look at the best way to fund and prioritize routes and schedules for passenger-only ferry service,” said John Clauson, Kitsap Transit executive director. “We had a great response to the first survey and are looking forward to more input from the community this round.”

Kitsap Transit began pursuing options for environmentally responsible passenger-only ferry service in 2003 when Washington State Ferries discontinued the popular Bremerton-Seattle passenger ferry due to funding cuts and concern about beach impacts caused by vessel wakes. In 2012, Kitsap Transit’s low-wake research study demonstrated that a low-wake ferry can be operated in Rich Passage without a negative effect on the beaches.

Kitsap Transit will evaluate three connections to Seattle from Bremerton, Kingston, and Southworth. The final business plan and recommendations will be presented to the Kitsap Transit Board of Commissioners this fall.

The survey will be available online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/update_KitsapFerry until Sept. 8. Call 1-800-501-7433 to complete the survey over the phone or in alternate languages. Plan updates and more information will be posted to www.kitsaptransit.com/passenger-only-ferry-business-plan.