Commenced operation | January 5, 1981 |
---|---|
Headquarters | 1401 West Rose Street Walla Walla, Washington |
Locale | Walla Walla County, Washington |
Service type | Bus service |
Routes | 10 |
Fleet | 24 vehicles |
Annual ridership | 693,694 (2013) [1] |
Fuel type | Diesel, gasoline, electric |
Website | valleytransit.com |
Valley Transit is a public transit operator in Walla Walla County, Washington. It operates 10 routes in the cities of Walla Walla and College Place. Since 2022, Valley Transit's buses have been fare-free.
Valley Transit was founded as the Walla Walla County Public Transportation Benefit Area in 1979, becoming the county's public transportation benefit area. A 0.3 percent sales tax was approved by voters on March 18, 1980, allowing for service to begin on January 5, 1981. [2] In its first year of operation, the system carried 435,500 passengers. [3]
Until 1997, Valley Transit operated an intercity route to Milton-Freewater, Oregon, through an intergovernmental agreement; [4] it has since been replaced by a bus operated by the city government of Milton-Freewater. [5]
On February 9, 2010, a 0.3 percent increase in sales tax was approved by 76 percent of voters to fund existing service and prevent service cuts. [6] [7] In March 2020, Valley Transit eliminated its normal routes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced service to hour-long loops and a series of shuttles. Fares were also temporarily eliminated. [8] Normal services were restored in March 2023 after staffing levels had recovered. [9]
As of 2023 [update], Valley Transit operates 10 routes in Walla Walla and surrounding communities. These routes generally run every 30 to 60 minutes from Monday to Saturdays. [10]
The agency also connects to several intercity bus routes, operated by other providers, at the Walla Walla Transit Center in downtown Walla Walla: [11]
Valley Transit began offering fare-free bus and dial-a-ride service during the summer in the mid-2010s to boost ridership. [12] [13] The fare-free service was extended to year-round beginning in 2022 as part of a four-year pilot program funded by the state government's Move Ahead Washington package. [14]
The agency's fares were formerly 50 cents for passengers aged 5 years or older and free to those under 5 (up to three per fare-paying rider). Monthly passes and ticket books were also offered. [10] Valley Transit began using smartphone payments through Token Transit in 2018. [15]
Commenced operation | January 5, 1981 |
---|---|
Headquarters | 1401 West Rose Street Walla Walla, Washington |
Locale | Walla Walla County, Washington |
Service type | Bus service |
Routes | 10 |
Fleet | 24 vehicles |
Annual ridership | 693,694 (2013) [1] |
Fuel type | Diesel, gasoline, electric |
Website | valleytransit.com |
Valley Transit is a public transit operator in Walla Walla County, Washington. It operates 10 routes in the cities of Walla Walla and College Place. Since 2022, Valley Transit's buses have been fare-free.
Valley Transit was founded as the Walla Walla County Public Transportation Benefit Area in 1979, becoming the county's public transportation benefit area. A 0.3 percent sales tax was approved by voters on March 18, 1980, allowing for service to begin on January 5, 1981. [2] In its first year of operation, the system carried 435,500 passengers. [3]
Until 1997, Valley Transit operated an intercity route to Milton-Freewater, Oregon, through an intergovernmental agreement; [4] it has since been replaced by a bus operated by the city government of Milton-Freewater. [5]
On February 9, 2010, a 0.3 percent increase in sales tax was approved by 76 percent of voters to fund existing service and prevent service cuts. [6] [7] In March 2020, Valley Transit eliminated its normal routes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced service to hour-long loops and a series of shuttles. Fares were also temporarily eliminated. [8] Normal services were restored in March 2023 after staffing levels had recovered. [9]
As of 2023 [update], Valley Transit operates 10 routes in Walla Walla and surrounding communities. These routes generally run every 30 to 60 minutes from Monday to Saturdays. [10]
The agency also connects to several intercity bus routes, operated by other providers, at the Walla Walla Transit Center in downtown Walla Walla: [11]
Valley Transit began offering fare-free bus and dial-a-ride service during the summer in the mid-2010s to boost ridership. [12] [13] The fare-free service was extended to year-round beginning in 2022 as part of a four-year pilot program funded by the state government's Move Ahead Washington package. [14]
The agency's fares were formerly 50 cents for passengers aged 5 years or older and free to those under 5 (up to three per fare-paying rider). Monthly passes and ticket books were also offered. [10] Valley Transit began using smartphone payments through Token Transit in 2018. [15]