(The Center Square) – Kitsap Transit is set to receive $13.5 million in federal funding to replace the aging fast ferry that serves the Kingston-Seattle route. The funding comes from the Federal Transit Administration’s Passenger Ferry Grant program, covering almost 80% of the $17.5 million cost to purchase a replacement vessel. Kitsap Transit is contributing about $4 million. “This funding allows us to buy a new boat to operate a route that has been running with a backup vessel – M/V Finest – that is older and has had to go out of service repeatedly for multiple issues,” Executive Director Jo…