Jefferson Transit

Public Information

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WHAT'S NEW

Obviously, Jefferson Transit isn't the only organization concerned with public tranportation in Jefferson County.  Other new resources are worth checking out.

Jefferson CAN is a local web site that provides all kinds of information about climate change and how people can take action to control the levels of greenhouse gases emitted into the environment.  Transportation choices are an integral component of a larger program of climate action.  http://www.jeffersoncan.org/

Visionary Transport Blog a brand new blog that is intended to be a forum for those interested in discussing the future of transportation and community development in Jefferson County.  Check it out at http://visionarytransport.blogspot.com .

Rideshareonline.com is a regional ridesharing website that covers Washington, Oregon and part of Idaho.  Users can sign up and look for people to carpool with, or start a vanpool.  Contact information for registered users is kept to a minimum to protect privacy.  www.rideshareonline.com

Jeffconnections is another local site that bills itself as Port Towsend and Jefferson County's source for transportation and event news.  It is produced by the Leader.  You can find it at http://jeffconnections.com/

The JEFFERSON TRANSIT AUTHORITY (Jefferson Transit) hereby grants you (Licensee) non-exclusive, limited and revocable rights to use, reproduce, and redistribute Jefferson Transit Data (Data) subject to the following Terms:

Jefferson Transit trademarks and copyrighted materials, including any confusingly similar variants, may not be used in association with Data.
Commercial use of Authority materials is expressly prohibited without the written permission of Jefferson Transit.
Data is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. Jefferson Transit makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied. Jefferson Transit disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Jefferson Transit and its employees, officers, directors and agents will not be liable for damages of any kind arising from the use of Data including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, punitive and consequential damages.
Jefferson Transit reserves the right to alter and/or no longer provide Data at any time without prior notice.
Jefferson Transit maintains title, ownership, rights and interest in and to Data.
By using Jefferson Transit Data, you agree to be bound by all of the Terms and Conditions set forth in this Agreement.

Applicable Law

The laws of the State of Washington shall govern all rights and obligations under this Agreement, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of laws.

Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the complete and exclusive agreement between JEFFERSON TRANSIT AUTHORITY and Licensee with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written understandings, communications, or agreements not specifically incorporated herein. JEFFERSON TRANSIT AUTHORITY reserves the right to modify or revoke this Agreement at any time.
  Data that Jefferson Transit uses to supply Google Transit isposted at www.gtfs-data-exchange.com.

Click here to read some helpful hints about interpreting the schedule information.

For your convenience, we have updated our online brochure to help you take public transportation to Sea-Tac Airport. Click here to view or download.

 You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the document. This will allow you to have access to it no matter what type of computer or operating system you use. If you don't already have it you can get it for free by clicking here.

To provide better customer service for our customers in West Jefferson County and out of state, we have gotten an 800 number. It is 1-800-371-0497. We ask that you continue using our regular number (385-4777) if you are calling locally.

NEWS RELEASES

Port Townsend – Jefferson Transit and The Port Townsend ReCyclery are working together to promote alternative transportation in Port Townsend and Jefferson County Jefferson Transit has placed bicycle lockers in several locations around the county and has found an ally in Chauncy Tudhope-Locklear, who runs The ReCyclery, a non-profit bike shop that specializes in repair and community activities that include free bike repair clinics and an Adopt-a-Bike program. The ReCyclery will promote the use of bike lockers with its clients and will have applications on hand for those who are interested in using them.

The bike lockers, purchased with funding from a Transportation Enhancement Program grant administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation, are intended for use by people who frequently travel at least partway by bicycle. “It was a grassroots effort to get funding for the bike lockers,” said Leigh Kennel, Jefferson Transit’s Grants Manager. “The lockers were on our Citizens Advisory Committee’s wish list for transportation enhancements and we received support letters from community members and the Port Townsend Bike Association that helped our grant application succeed.”

Combining transit and cycling can provide a high level of mobility comparable to automobile travel. Bike lockers provide temporary and secure storage while the bicyclist goes to work, meets with friends, or goes on errands. “We are very excited to be working with Jefferson Transit on the bike locker program. It gives cyclists more confidence that their bike will still be where they left it when they get back from their trip” says Chauncey Tudhope-Locklear In Jefferson County, bike lockers are located at the Haines Place Park and Ride in Port Townsend, the Jefferson County Library and H.J. Carroll Park in Chimacum.

To use a bike locker, you must be over 18 years old. Use of the locker is free except for a refundable $45.00 deposit, and is subject to periodic review and fees for damage, key replacement or extra keys. To sign up for a bike locker, please contact Jefferson Transit at (360) 385-4777 or inquire at the ReCyclery located at 624 Polk St in Uptown Port Townsend.

Jefferson Transit is pleased to announce that it has recently partnered with the Coast Gateway Hotel in Seatac for discounted room rates for passengers using Jefferson Transit to get to and from the airport. Since Pennco ceased operations, Jefferson Transit has been inundated with requests for information on how to get to Seatac from Jefferson and Clallam Counties. While it is quite easy to do and very inexpensive, public transit does lack the flexibility that Pennco offered. Additionally, using public transit to get to the airport from Jefferson County does require that the traveler transfer between Jefferson Transit, Kitsap Transit, the Washington State Ferry System and King County Metro. While this sounds like a lot, the connections are very easy to make. However, getting people to the airport in time for early morning departures or for returning home after late day arrivals has been impractical until now. In order to address this, Jefferson Transit has negotiated a reduced room rate at the Coast Gateway Hotel. This will allow individuals the option of using public transit to arrive at the airport, at their leisure, the day before their flight, spend the night at the Coast Gateway, and then get to the airport on time the day of their flight. The Coast Gateway offers complementary shuttle service 24/7 between the airport and the hotel. For example: someone may have a 7:00 AM flight leaving Seatac and needs to use public transit to get to the airport. With Jefferson Transit's current schedule, the earliest time that they could expect to get to the airport on a weekday is around 9:30 AM -- obviously too late to catch their 7:00 AM flight. However, that same passenger could now leave for the airport as late as 5:06 PM from the Haines Place Park-and-Ride and arrive at the airport the evening before their flight, be picked up at the airport by the Coast Gateway Courtesy Shuttle and brought to the hotel to enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening. In the morning the hotel would then shuttle the passenger back to the airport in time to catch their flight.

The cost for this service is very reasonable. Round trip transit and ferry fares would run about $15.50, less for seniors and an overnight stay at the Coast Gateway Hotel at the discounted rate is currently $95 + tax.   Extended parking at the Haines Place Park-and-Ride is free. To make a reservation at the Coast Gateway Hotel at the discounted rate, please call the hotel directly at: 206/248-8200 and mention that you are requesting the Jefferson Transit/Airport discount.

For additional information on how to use public transit to get to the airport, please call Jefferson Transit at (360) 385-4777.

"... I have to say that customer service was the best I have ever seen on any transit system that I have ridden to date." So concludes the summary in a report compiled for Jefferson Transit after a private firm conducted a customer service assessment for the transit system's management. The "ghost rider", working anonymously, rode several Jefferson Transit routes and observed how drivers delivered transit services with particular attention to customer service and safety.

 The body of the report repeats several superlatives such as: "polite", "smooth ride", "cheerful", "friendly", "informative" and "impressive performance" when describing driver demeanor.

"This is something that we knew all along about our employees," stated General Manager Dave Turissini, "However, it sure is nice to hear about it from trained professionals who know what they're looking at! It's something that I am very proud of and I know that everyone else here is too."

The report went on to explain that not only are the drivers courteous, safe and professional, but that they all exhibited an enthusiasm for both the agency and the community in general. They took the time to point out places of interest to visitors. The report expressed the opinion that Jefferson Transit employees contribute to the overall positive experience that a visitor has while in Port Townsend.

RIDER ALERTS

Effective June 9, 2010, Jefferson Transit will serve the Penny Saver Stop.  Routes serving this location are:
#1 Brinnon/Quilcene/Tri Area
#2 SE Connector
#3 NW Connector
#6 Tri Area Loop
#7 Poulsbo
#8 Sequim

Effective June 9, 2010, the #3 NW Connector will re-route as follows:
-From Monroe St, left on Clay, right to Lawrence St.
Serving Marine Plaza at 40 minutes past the hour
-From 9th St, left on Hancock, right on 7th, left on Sheridan St.
Providing service to the QFC plaza at 8 minutes past the hour.

Effective June 21, 2010, Monday through Friday
The early morning departure to Poulsbo will change from 5:40 to 5:50 a.m.

MEETING NOTICES

The Citizens Advisory Committee meets the first MONDAY of the month at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are generally held in the new Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce building at the Park and Ride across from Safeway. Several times a year CAC meetings are held in other locations in East Jefferson County. Any change of meeting date or location will be listed here and in the Port Townsend Leader

Regular meetings of the Jefferson Transit Authority Board are held the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 1:30 p.m. Starting January 19, Authority Board meetings will be held at the Mountain View Commons at the corner of Walker and Blaine streets. These meetings are open to the public. Any change of meeting date or location will be listed here and in the Port Townsend Leader.

The Jefferson Transit Authority Board will hold a special meeting on August 3 for the purpose of discussing a sales tax initiative.  That meeting will be held in Classroom 6 at the Mountain View Commons, 1925 Blaine St, Port Townsend and will begin at 1:30 p.m.

To view a schedule of the 2010 Authority Board  meetings, click here. To view the agenda for the next regular Authority Board business meeting, click here.

To view the resolution to place a proposal for a sales tax increase on the November 2, 2010 ballot, click here.

BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

FROM THE JULY MEETING

At the July meeting of the Jefferson Transit Authority Board, Board members welcomed a new, non-voting member of the board appointed by the Amalgamated Transit Union, Pam Thompson.  They also updated agency DBE goals and procurement policy, and voted to hold a special meeting to discuss a sales tax initiative.  That meeting will be held on August 3.   For more details, please refer to MEETING NOTICES, above.

To view the minutes of the June 15, 2010 meeting, click here.