Kitsap Transit and the Suquamish Tribe in Washington recently reached an agreement that the transit agency will pay the tribe a year for 20 years for 96 parking stalls at the tribe’s parking lot at Clearwater Casino in Suquamish located on Highway 305. The deal makes it unnecessary for the state to build a new park-and-ride garage.
In addition, Kitsap Transit will lease to the tribe’s business division, Point Madison Enterprises, a designated space for a casino shuttle at the Bainbridge Island ferry dock for $1 annually.
Kitsap Transit Executive Director John Clauson said, “Working with the tribe through Port Madison Enterprises has been wonderful. They have been very open and willing to entertain all suggestions. I think the lease we have here is favorable for all, so I’m excited about it.”
Kitsap Transit transferred to the state Department of Transportation $2.3 million it received as a grant, which the DOT will use to design and build the improvements on state right-of-way along the highway. The state will remove the old park-and-ride lot. Construction will begin later this summer and be completed in 2016.
