| Valley Transit | |
| 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 |
| Leader Type: | General Manager |
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.
Until 1997, Valley Transit operated an intercity route to Milton-Freewater, Oregon, through an intergovernmental agreement; it has since been replaced by a bus operated by the city government of Milton-Freewater.[3]
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.[4] [5] 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.[6] Normal services were restored in March 2023 after staffing levels had recovered.[7]
, Valley Transit operates 10 routes in Walla Walla and surrounding communities. These routes generally run every 30 to 60 minutes from Monday to Saturdays.[8]
The agency also connects to several intercity bus routes, operated by other providers, at the Walla Walla Transit Center in downtown Walla Walla:[9]
Valley Transit began offering fare-free bus and dial-a-ride service during the summer in the mid-2010s to boost ridership.[10] [11] 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.[12]
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.[8] Valley Transit began using smartphone payments through Token Transit in 2018.[13]