| Commenced operation | 1975 [1] |
|---|---|
| Locale | Cowlitz County, Washington |
| Service type | Bus service |
| Routes | 7 |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Operator | Cowlitz Transit Authority |
| Website | rctransit.org |
RiverCities Transit is a public transit system serving the cities of Longview and Kelso in Cowlitz County, Washington.
History
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
| 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
| 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
- ^ a b 2013 Annual Report and 2014-2019 Transit Development Plan (PDF) (Report). RiverCities Transit. August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ a b 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.