RiverCities Transit (Washington)
RiverCities Transit is a public transit system serving the cities of Longview and Kelso in Cowlitz County, Washington.
Commenced operation | 1975[1] |
---|---|
Locale | Cowlitz County, Washington |
Service type | Bus service |
Routes | 7 |
Fuel type | Diesel |
Operator | Cowlitz Transit Authority |
Website | rctransit.org |
History
![](../I/RiverCities_Transit_bus_at_Nichols_Blvd.jpg.webp)
Public transportation service in Cowlitz County began in 1975, with the purchase of a private bus company by the cities of Longview and Kelso. The two cities partnered with the Cowlitz County government to organize a public transportation benefit area in 1987, and a 0.1 percent sales tax to fund the bus system was approved by 77.3 percent of voters on September 16, 1987.[2]: 21 The existing service, then named the "Community Urban Bus Service" (CUBS), was transferred to the Cowlitz Transit Authority on January 1, 1988.[2]: 43
In 2008, CUBS put a 0.2 percent sales tax increase up for public vote, seeking $2 million in additional annual revenue to continue running service and expanding frequency and hours of operation.[3] The increase was approved by voters, bringing the total sales tax to 0.3 percent.
The Cowlitz Transit Authority adopted a 10-year "Transit Enhancement Plan" in 2010, proposing a re-branded system with more frequent service and newer buses.[4] In 2011, CUBS began exploring a re-brand, complete with a new name, using an online poll.[5] "RiverCities Transit" was announced as the winner later that month,[6] and a new blue-and-gray color scheme was adopted for the system's bus fleet the following year.[7] A new route system, focusing on corridors where buses run every 30 to 60 minutes, debuted in August 2013;[8] an express route between Longview and Kelso debuted earlier that year in April, reducing travel times.[9]
Services
Bus routes
- As of October 2015[10]
Route | Inbound terminus |
Outbound terminus |
Via | Frequency | Saturday service |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
31 | Longview Transit Center | 32nd Avenue & Maryland | Western Longview | 60 minutes 30 minutes (peak) |
Yes | |
32 | Longview Transit Center | 30th Avenue & Larch | Downtown Longview | 60 minutes 30 minutes (peak) |
Yes | |
33 | Longview Transit Center | Heron Pointe | Lower Columbia College | 60 minutes | Yes | |
44 | Heron Pointe | Three Rivers Mall | Ocean Beach Highway, Longview | 60 minutes | No | Express service along Ocean Beach Highway |
45 | Longview Transit Center | Three Rivers Mall | Downtown Longview, Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center | 30 minutes | Yes | "Circulator" loop |
56 | Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center | Three Rivers Mall | Kelso | 60 minutes | No (Use route 57) |
Runs in the opposite direction as route 57[11] |
57 | Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center | Three Rivers Mall | Kelso | 60 minutes | Yes | Runs in the opposite direction as route 56 |
Fleet
- As of March 2014[1]: 20
Year | Manufacturer | Model | Fleet Numbers |
Qty. | Capacity | Fuel Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | Gillig | Phantom 30' | 42-29 | 1 | 29 | Diesel | |
2002 | Gillig | Phantom 35' | 42-01–42-04 | 4 | 35 | Diesel | |
2003 | Gillig | Phantom 35' | 42-05–42-06 | 2 | 35 | Diesel | |
2009 | Gillig | Low Floor 35' | 42-07 | 1 | 32 | Diesel | |
2011 | Gillig | Low Floor HEV 35' | 42-09 | 1 | 32 | Diesel-electric hybrid | |
2013 | Gillig | BRT 35' | 42-10–42-13 | 4 | 32 | Diesel |
References
- 2013 Annual Report and 2014-2019 Transit Development Plan (PDF) (Report). RiverCities Transit. August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- Planning, Research and Public Transportation Division (December 1988). Public Transportation in Washington State, 1988 (PDF) (Report). Washington State Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
- Fischer, Amy M.E. (October 22, 2008). "Election primer: CUBS eyes expansion, seeks sales tax increase". The Daily News. Longview, Washington. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- Fischer, Amy M.E. (November 27, 2010). "CUBS officials release roadmap for future service". The Daily News. Longview, Washington. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- Fischer, Amy M.E. (December 8, 2011). "Bus service seeks public's opinion on new name and logo". The Daily News. Longview, Washington. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- Fischer, Amy M.E. (December 29, 2011). "New bus service name chosen in decisive vote". The Daily News. Longview, Washington. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- Fischer, Amy M.E. (November 11, 2012). "RiverCities Transit buses getting facelift". The Daily News. Longview, Washington. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- Fischer, Amy M.E. (August 1, 2013). "RiverCities Transit set to begin revamped route system". The Daily News. Longview, Washington. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- Fischer, Amy M.E. (April 11, 2013). "RiverCities Transit to begin express route from West Longview to Kelso". The Daily News. Longview, Washington. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- "System Map". RiverCities Transit. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- "Route 56/57". RiverCities Transit. Retrieved August 23, 2016.