| RiverCities Transit | |
| Commenced: | [1] |
| Locale: | Cowlitz County, Washington |
| Service Type: | Bus service |
| Routes: | 7 |
| Operator: | Cowlitz Transit Authority |
| Fuel Type: | Diesel |
RiverCities Transit is a public transit system serving the cities of Longview and Kelso in Cowlitz County, Washington.
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] The existing service, then named the "Community Urban Bus Service" (CUBS), was transferred to the Cowlitz Transit Authority on January 1, 1988.[2]
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]
| Route | Inbound terminus | Outbound terminus | Via | Frequency | Saturday service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Longview Transit Center | 32nd Avenue & Maryland | Western Longview | 60 minutes 30 minutes (peak) | |||
| 32 | Longview Transit Center | 30th Avenue & Larch | Downtown Longview | 60 minutes 30 minutes (peak) | |||
| 33 | Longview Transit Center | Heron Pointe | Lower Columbia College | 60 minutes | |||
| 44 | Heron Pointe | Three Rivers Mall | Ocean Beach Highway, Longview | 60 minutes | Express service along Ocean Beach Highway | ||
| 45 | Longview Transit Center | Three Rivers Mall | Downtown Longview, Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center | 30 minutes | "Circulator" loop | ||
| 56 | Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center | Three Rivers Mall | Kelso | 60 minutes | Runs in the opposite direction as route 57[11] | ||
| 57 | Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center | Three Rivers Mall | Kelso | 60 minutes | Runs in the opposite direction as route 56 |
| Year | Manufacturer | Model | Fleet Numbers | 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 |