PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson Transit has agreed in principle to provide temporary bus service in Kitsap County during the May-June Hood Canal Bridge construction closure after Kitsap Transit declined to provide the service.

Jefferson Transit General Manager Dave Turissini informed the board of the surprise development on Tuesday, having learned about it late last week.

“I’m proud to say Jefferson Transit has stepped up to the plate,” Turissini said, adding that state Department of Transportation officials told him “Whatever you guys need to make things go on the other side, go for it.”

Jefferson Transit will obtain buses from Kitsap Transit, and hire the more than 24 temporary bus drivers needed on the Jefferson County side for 24-hour free rides.

Mike Pollack, who is managing Jefferson Transit’s efforts to provide ground transportation for the bridge closure to passenger ferry service terminals, called the service as “huge challenge” that would involve obtaining buses from Kitsap Transit and hiring more than the 24 temporary bus drivers needed on the Jefferson County side.

The bridge is scheduled to be closed on May 1 for six weeks to replace its dilapidated east half.

Turissini said an agreement was to be worked out with DOT officials on Thursday to provide bus service from a temporary parking lot on the Fred Hill Materials Shine Pit site to the South Point dock.

Passengers cross the canal by Victoria Express water shuttle to the Lofall dock.

Buses will then transport passengers to Port Gamble where they would make Kitsap County connections, such as the ferries to Seattle.

“There is still going to be service,” said Becky Hixson, bridge project business manager.

“It’s going to a be a combination of different people involved. There are some legal loopholes we have to jump through.

“We looking at two different options, but we’re well on the way to knowing which one of the two we’ll be pursuing. I don’t want people to be upset thinking there isn’t going to be anything there.”

Kitsap Transit

Lary Coppola, Port Orchard mayor and a Kitsap Transit board member, was reluctant to say why Kitsap Transit pulled out, but said the action involved some “union issues.”

“Also, there is something in the Kitsap Transit charter that doesn’t allow them to do it, but I’m not sure what it is,” Coppola said.

Kitsap Transit has agreed to allow Jefferson Transit to use some of Kitsap’s buses, but that agency’s union employees could not drive them, he said.

“It’s not a case of they don’t want to do it, it’s a legal prohibition on it,” he said.

Some Jefferson Transit board members voiced surprise after Turissini broke the news.

“I’m appalled that Kitsap Transit is doing this at the last minute,” said Port Townsend Deputy Mayor George Randels, who along with Councilwoman Catherine Robinson represents the city on the transit board.

Turissini and Hixson said they would shed more details Friday morning after Jefferson Transit meets with DOT officials.

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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.