Tri-Cities Community Connections

Something that I enjoy doing, especially in the last year or so, is utilizing public transit operated by various agencies in the Eastern WA/OR to journey to new cities, away from the Tri-Cities, and essentially "play tourist." This post is intended as a reference for just some of those options. Unless otherwise stated, I have personally utilized each option I will be discussing. Also, keep in mind that I am striving to make this purely based on facts alone, but some personal opinions and observations may make their way in, to help me better explain the subject matter.

Ben Franklin Transit
Ben Franklin Transit, the local operator for the Tri-Cities area of Washington State, operates a total of 25 routes that allow acess to all three cities, as well as West Richland. One route in particular, Rt. 170, allows access to the nearby communities of Benton City and Prosser. Travel is between the Knight Street Transit Center in Richland and Stacey Street Transit Center in Prosser, which takes 53 mins, with a 7 min layover before returning to Richland.

WESTBOUND
Richland Knight Street Transit Center	Hazel Avenue/Horne Drive (Benton City)*	Prosser Stacey Street Transit Center
5:37AM**	N/A**	6:08AM**
7:15AM	7:40AM	8:08AM
9:15AM	9:40AM	10:08AM
11:15AM	11:40AM	12:08PM
1:15PM	1:40PM	2:08PM
3:15PM	3:40PM	4:08PM
5:15PM	5:40PM	6:08PM
EASTBOUND
Prosser Stacey Street Transit Center	Hazel Avenue/Horne Drive (Benton City)	Richland Knight Street Transit Center
6:15AM	6:40AM	7:08AM
8:15AM	8:40AM	9:08AM
10:15AM	10:40AM	11:08AM
12:15PM	12:40PM	1:08PM
2:15PM	2:40PM	3:08PM
4:15PM	4:40PM	5:08PM
6:12PM**	N/A**	6:58PM**

* = Times listed are arrival at time marker. There is a 6-minute layover before the bus continues on the route.
** = The first and last runs are on an express routing, running from the Richland "Y" [BFT Bus Barn/Dispatch] to Benton City Park-N-Ride to Stacey St T.C., and vice versa.)

For travel within the Tri-Cities (including West Richland and Benton City), an Adult fare on BFT costs $1.25, while a Youth fare $0.80. A day pass for either costs $3.50. However, BFT has a add-on fare for travel to/from Prosser. For Adult fares, the add-on is $1.00 to the normal fare, while Youth fares add $0.50. (This also applies to a day pass or monthly pass.) It should be noted that some drivers are more dilligent about enforcing the add-on fare than others.

Prosser Info: prosserchamber.org
Benton City Info: www.ci.benton-city.wa.us

Grapeline
Grapeline is the result of a partnership between WSDOT and Greyhound to provide service between the city of Pasco and the city of Walla Walla, along with stops in the communities of Burbank, Wallula, Touchet, and College Place. Operated by Bellair Charters (who also operate the Airporter Shuttle), service is provided 3 times a day in each direction. Each trip takes approximately 1hr, 55 min, from the airports of Pasco and Walla Walla. However, the majority of users board from Walla Walla Transit Center and 22nd Ave Transit Center (Pasco), which takes 1hr, 35 min.

Stop	Trip #1	Trip #2	Trip #3
Walla Walla Airport	6:15AM	11:45AM	5:15PM
Walla Walla Transit Center	6:25AM	11:55AM	5:25PM
College Place (Frog Hollow Hobby Shop)	6:35AM	12:05PM	5:35PM
Touchet (Chevron Station)*	7:00AM	12:30PM	6:00PM
Wallula (Post Office)	7:20AM	12:50PM	6:20PM
Burbank (Shell Station)	7:33AM	1:03PM	6:33PM
Pasco Intermodal	7:48AM	1:18PM	6:48PM
Pasco 22nd Ave Transit Center	8:00AM	1:30PM	7:00PM
Tri-Cities Airport	8:10AM	1:40PM	7:10PM
TURNAROUND
Tri-Cities Airport	9:35AM	2:35PM	9:35PM
Pasco 22nd Ave Transit Center	9:45AM	2:45PM	9:45PM
Pasco Intermodal	9:55AM	2:55PM	9:55PM
Burbank (Shell Station)	10:10AM	3:10PM	10:10PM
Wallula (Post Office)	10:23AM	3:23PM	10:23PM
Touchet (Chevron Station)*	10:40AM	3:40PM	10:40PM
College Place (Frog Hollow Hobby Shop)	11:05AM	4:05PM	11:05PM
Walla Walla Transit Center	11:15AM	4:15PM	11:15PM
Walla Walla Airport	11:25AM	4:25PM	11:25PM

* = On some trips, the driver may make a 5-10 min layover at the Touchet Chevron Station. This is not always the case however, and it is more common on the Walla Walla to Pasco trip.

The fare structure is based on the simple idea that the farther you ride, the more you will pay. The fares are as follows:

Destinations	WW/CP	Touchet	Wallula	Burbank	Pasco
WW/CP	N/A	$4.00	$5.00	$6.00	$6.50
Touchet	$4.00	N/A	$4.00	$5.00	$6.00
Wallula	$5.00	$4.00	N/A	$4.00	$5.00
Burbank	$6.00	$5.00	$4.00	N/A	$3.00
Pasco	$6.50	$6.00	$5.00	$3.00	N/A

Walla Walla Info: wallawalla.org

People For People
People For People is a non-profit organization operating in Central and South-Central Washington State, who provide a variety of services, including transportation services for the general public and special needs population, employment & training services, and 2-1-1 Information & Referral Services. Among their transportation services, one of the routes they run is a weekday, free-fare bus from Prosser to Yakima, with intermediate stops along the way. It is dependant on the time of day, but the average run takes the bus about 2 hours each way. The last runs of the night run as express routes and take 1hr 10min and 1hr 35min respectively.

Stop	Trip #1	Trip #2	Trip #3	Express
Yakima (Transit Center)	6:15AM	12:00PM	4:10PM	5:20PM
Wapato (International Market)	6:30AM	12:20PM	4:30PM	5:40PM
Toppenish (Yakama Nation Health Ctr.)	6:45AM	12:35PM	N/A	N/A
Toppenish (People For People)	6:50AM	12:40PM	4:50PM	N/A
Toppenish (Safeway @ SE Corner)	N/A	N/A	N/A	5:55PM
Zillah (Sun Mart)	7:00AM	12:50PM	5:00PM	N/A
Granger (Chandler's Conoco)	7:10AM	1:00PM	5:10PM	6:10PM
Sunnyside (WorkSource)	7:30AM	1:20PM	5:30PM	N/A
Grandview (Park & Ride)	N/A	N/A	N/A	6:30PM
Grandview (Post Office)	7:50AM	1:40PM	5:50PM	N/A
Prosser (Stacey St. Transit Center)	8:10AM	2:15PM	6:10PM	N/A
TURNAROUND
Prosser (Stacey St. Transit Center)	N/A	8:10AM	2:15PM	6:20PM
Grandview (Post Office)	N/A	8:25AM	2:30PM	6:30PM
Grandview (Park & Ride)	N/A	N/A	N/A	6:35PM
Sunnyside (WorkSource)	N/A	8:45AM	2:50PM	6:45PM
Granger (Chandler's Conoco)	N/A	9:05AM	3:10PM	7:05PM
Zillah (Sun Mart)	5:15AM	9:15AM	3:20PM	N/A
Toppenish (People For People)	5:30AM	9:25AM	3:30PM	N/A
Toppenish (Safeway @ SE Corner)	N/A	N/A	N/A	7:25PM
Toppenish (Yakama Nation Health Ctr.)	5:35AM	9:30AM	3:35PM	N/A
Wapato (International Market)	5:50AM	9:45AM	3:50PM	7:40PM
Yakima (Transit Center)	6:15AM	10:00AM	4:10PM	7:55PM

As already stated, People For People's transportation services are free-fare, so you don't have to pay a single penny!

Yakima Info: visityakima.com

Other Options
Though these do not technically fall under the term "public transportation," they are worth noting as anything that can get you somewhere without a car is at least a start.

-Airporter Shuttle
Operated by Bellair Charters (also operate Grapeline, see above), this is a direct link service between Yakima and Seattle, the key focus being the service it provides to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Stops along the way include Ellensburg, Cle Elum, and North Bend. More info: Central Washington Airporter

-Amtrak
As most people are aware of, Amtrak is the national operator of passenger rail in the United States. Though service is more prevalent on the eastern half of the country, Amtrak can get you where you need to go. Plus you can't beat the scenery you'll see along the way. More info: Amtrak

-Greyhound
Once again, Greyhound is a system most are familiar with. Though not the only bus company, it is the most well known and has the most destinations available. Tickets are cheap and easy to get, especially if you buy well in advance. There are downsides to travel via Greyhound however, such as the "first come, first serve" policy for seats, but if you're smart about it and flexible with your plans, it can be a fun way to travel. More info: Greyhound