Ben Franklin Transit

Ben Franklin Transit

Founded	1981
Headquarters	1000 Columbia Park Trail Richland, Washington
Service area	Tri-Cities, Washington
Service type	Transit, Paratransit
Routes	22
Hubs	7
Fleet	66 (fixed-route)
Annual ridership	5.5 million (2008)
Fuel type	Diesel, Battery-Electric
Website	www.bft.org

Ben Franklin Transit is the operator of public transportation in Franklin and Benton counties in the U.S. state of Washington. Seventeen routes provide local service for the three component urban areas of the Tri-Cities: Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco. Five routes connect the Tri-Cities metro area, as well as extend to the municipalities of Benton City, Prosser, and West Richland. Most routes run six days a week. Bus service runs between 6AM and 6:30PM, Monday-Friday and 8AM and 6:30PM on Saturdays and select holidays. Trans+Plus covers the Tri-Cities portion of the service area 6:30PM to 2:00AM Monday-Saturday and 7:30AM to 6:00pm on Sundays. There is also an ADA Paratransit service Dial-a-Ride for those who are physically unable to use the regular transit bus service.

A former DOE Hanford commuter bus

GM New Look, used in the early years of Ben Franklin Transit

History

The roots of public transportation in the Tri-Cities region can be traced back to the beginnings of the Hanford Site, which was opened in 1943 in the midst of World War II, and ultimately produced the plutonium used in the Fat Man bomb that was detonated over Nagasaki, Japan. General Electric, and later the Atomic Energy Commission, provided bus service as a way to bring its workers to and from the Hanford site to locales in the area, largely Richland.

In 1978, the voters of Benton County were asked to vote on a proposed county-wide bus system, but this measure was defeated, largely in part by the efforts of the Rockwell Hanford drivers, who feared that they would lose their jobs if the voters passed the proposal. (The Public Transportation Benefit Area (PTBA) officials later passed a resolution that the bus system would not compete with Rockwell Hanford). Two years later, a bus system proposal was brought to the voters again. However, this time officials largely scaled back the proposed service area to just Kennewick and Richland, and also included Pasco, located on the other side of the Columbia River in Franklin County. For a second time, the proposal was defeated. The next year saw better luck though, as the Benton-Franklin Public Transportation Benefit Area was officially formed on May 11, 1981 when voters in the service area voted to enact a sales tax levy of three-tenths of a cent to "finance a municipal corporation which would provide public transportation services in Benton and Franklin Counties."

May 10, 1982 saw the first day of passenger service for Ben Franklin Transit, ending with 2,043 total riders. Ridership continued to slowly grow after that, as more routes were launched and more buses were put into service. Ben Franklin Transit would later buy out the franchise of Bassett Transit who had been running commuter bus service to the unsecured portions of the Hanford site, primarily the Energy Northwest Nuclear Power Plant. In 1998, Prosser Rural Transit was absorbed into Ben Franklin Transit.

Originally operating with a fleet that largely consisted of used GM New Looks bought from the Minneapolis, MN MTC (Metropolitan Transit Commission), Ben Franklin Transit put out a bid in 1987 for 30 new buses. After some delays, mainly due to cost and budgeting at the time, the $4.5 million bid was awarded to the Gillig Corporation, who would build a total of thirty-three Gillig Phantom coaches (6 30 ft and 27 35 ft) at a cost of $135,759 each. In 1992, Gillig also won the contract to provide Ben Franklin Transit with eight 40-foot coaches which had been specified in the original order, but delayed due to cost. All subsequent bids afterwards for town coaches have been awarded to Gillig, with the exception of the nine Optima Opus coaches purchased in 2003-2004.

Annexations

1996 Benton City and Prosser
2005 Finley

Accolades

In 2007, Ben Franklin Transit was awarded the Governor's Award for Sustainable Practices.

The new Administration building has received LEED Gold Certification

Experimental Projects

O2Diesel

In 2006 Ben Franklin Transit entered into an agreement with O2Diesel to test a blended fuel that included both bio-diesel and ethanol. This experiment lasted for approximately 1 year but was ended due to cost and supply problems.

ZEPS EBus

An electric bus from Complete Coach Works, converted from a 2005 Gillig Low Floor, was introduced into service in mid 2013. It primarily operates during weekday peak hours on the 23/26 pair.

Routes

There are 22 routes which serve a specific local area as well as routes which provide a connection between the cities.

No.	Area served	Transit Center(s)	Route description (Local) Cities Served (Inter City & Rural)	Service Days	Notes
23	Richland Local	Knight Street Transit Center	Jadwin	Monday to Friday
25	Richland Local	Knight Street Transit Center	Wright, Stevens	Monday to Saturday
26	Richland Local	Knight Street Transit Center	George Washington Way	Monday to Friday	PNNL/Battelle Peak Hours Only
27	Richland Local	Knight Street Transit Center	Jadwin, George Washington Way	Saturday
39H	Richland Local Hills West	Knight Street Transit Center, Three Rivers Transit Center	Hills West/Gage Blvd.	Monday to Saturday
39K	Richland Local Keene Rd.	Knight Street Transit Center, Three Rivers Transit Center	Keene Rd./Gage Blvd.	Monday to Saturday
41	Kennewick Local	Huntington Transit Center, Dayton Transfer Point	E. Kennewick/S. Kennewick	Monday to Saturday
42	Kennewick Local	Three Rivers Transit Center, Dayton Transfer Point	4th Crosstown	Monday to Saturday
47	Kennewick Local	Huntington Transit Center, Dayton Transfer Point	27th Crosstown	Monday to Saturday
48	Kennewick Local	Three Rivers Transit Center, Dayton Transfer Point	10th Crosstown	Monday to Saturday
50	Kennewick Local	Three Rivers Transit Center	Vista District/Columbia Center Loop	Monday to Saturday
60	Pasco Local	22nd Avenue Transit Center	Jan Street	Monday to Saturday
62	Pasco Local	22nd Avenue Transit Center	Court Street	Monday to Saturday
64	Pasco Local	22nd Avenue Transit Center	Lewis Street, S Elm	Monday to Saturday
65	Pasco Local	22nd Avenue Transit Center	Sylvester, N Elm	Monday to Saturday
66	Pasco Local	22nd Avenue Transit Center	Sylvester, Road 88	Monday to Friday
67	Pasco Local	22nd Avenue Transit Center	Sandifur Parkway	Monday to Saturday	Serves CBC loop Monday-Friday School days
110	Inter City	West Richland Transit Center, Three Rivers Transit Center	Kennewick, Richland, West Richland	Monday to Friday
120	Inter City	West Richland Transit Center, Richland Transit Center, Three Rivers Transit Center, Huntington Transit Center, 22nd Avenue Transit Center	Pasco, Kennewick, Richland, West Richland	Monday to Saturday
160	Inter City	Three Rivers Transit Center, Dayton Transfer Point, 22nd Avenue Transit Center	Pasco, Kennewick	Monday to Saturday
170	Rural	Prosser (Stacy Street) Transit Center, Benton City Park & Ride, Knight Street Transit Center	Richland, Benton City , Prosser	Monday to Saturday	No ADA Paratransit on Saturdays
225	Inter City	22nd Avenue Transit Center, Knight Street Transit Center	Pasco, Richland	Monday to Saturday	Serves CBC loop Monday-Friday School days

Fleet

Active Fleet

	Model	Motor	Seated Capacity	Length	Time of Service	Quantity	Fleet Numbers	Notes
	Optima Opus	Cummins B5.9	23	29'	2003–Present	6	501-506
					2004–Present	3	507-509
	Gillig Low Floor	Cummins ISL	40	40'	2005–Present	5	245-247,249-250	248 rebuilt into ZEPS Electric Bus E-1
					2006–Present	3	251-253
	Gillig Low Floor	Cummins ISL	23	29'	2007–Present	5	254-258	Acquired via a "piggyback" on a CamTran order
	Gillig Low Floor	Cummins ISL	40	40'	2009–Present	9	259-267	Acquired via a "piggyback" on a Laketran order
	Gillig Phantom	Cummins M11	29	30'	2010 (1995) - Present	4	268-271	Ex C-TRAN 2036, 2043, 2045, and 2051
	Gillig Phantom	Cummins M11	37	35'	2010 (1995) - Present	3	272-274	Ex C-TRAN 2061-2063. See 275 in "Retired Fleet" below.
	Gillig Phantom	Cummins M11	45	40'	2010 (1995) - Present	1	277	Ex C-TRAN 2088. See 276, 278-280 in "Retired Fleet" below.
	Gillig Phantom	Cummins M11+	45	40'	2011 (1999) - Present	11	283-293	Ex-Sound Transit 9016-9017, 9019, 9022, 9045, 9048-9049, and 9052-9053 [283 was 9017, 284 was 9016](originally acquired via a "piggyback" on a King County Metro order). 293 has new engine, reset governor, capable of 70 mph
					2012 (1999) - Present	12	294-305	Ex-Sound Transit 9000-9001, 9003-9009, 9013, 9037-9038 (originally acquired via a "piggyback" on a King County Metro order). "Wave" livery is removed. 297 has the new BFT livery.
	ZEPS Electric Bus (Gillig Low Floor)	KAM All-Electric Drive	38	40'	2013–Present	1	E-1	Originally entered service in 2005 as 248, rebuilt by Complete Coach Works in 2012/2013 as an all-electric bus
	Gillig Low Floor		37	40'	2013–Present	4	5306-5309	Acquired via a "piggyback" on a Laketran order. All four buses are in the new BFT livery.
	Gillig Low Floor		37	40'	2014–Present	14	5310-5323	Acquired via piggyback contracts, fleet in process of being delivered.

Future Fleet

	Model	Motor	Seated Capacity	Length	Purchased	Status	Quantity	Fleet Numbers	Notes
	Gillig Low Floor		37	40'	2012	Delivery mid-2014	10	5314-5323	Acquired via a "piggyback" on a Lynx order
	Gillig Low Floor		37	40'	2012	Delivered 1/2014	4	5310-5313
	Gillig Low Floor		37	40'	2013	To be delivered 2015	4	# to be determined	Acquired via a "piggyback" on a Whatcom Transportation Authority order
	Gillig Low Floor		37	40'	2013	To be delivered 2015	4	# to be determined
	Gillig Low Floor		37	40'	2013	To be delivered 2015	4	# to be determined	2 units acquired via a "piggyback" on a Whatcom Transportation Authority order, other 2 units bought directly from Gillig using an extension on the same WTA contract

Retired Fleet

	Model	Motor	Seated Capacity	Length	Time of Service	Quantity	Fleet Numbers	Notes
	GM New Look	GM 6V71	45	35'	1982 (1961) - 1990?	37	101-138	#121 is ex-Alexandria, Barcroft & Washington Transit Company #134
	Mercedes-Benz O309							Ex-Community Transit. Purchased for West Richland Route 10, replaced by 139
	MCI MC-7	Detroit Diesel 8V71 (might have been repowered to 8V92)			1983 (1972) - 1995	7	701-707	701 and 707 ex-Kerrville Bus Co. V111 and V110. 702-706 ex-Gray Line of Hawaii Inc. 402, 405, 409, 404, and 405. All units entered service as NASA - Kennedy Space Center #'s 17, 25, 12, 14, 21, 13, and 16.
	TMC MC-8	Detroit Diesel 8V71			1987 (1975) - 1995	1	708	Ex-Greyhound Lines (West) 2413
	Gillig Phantom	Detroit Diesel 6V-92TA	29	30'	1986 - 2003	1	139
					1988 - 2005	5	201, 203-206
					1989 - 2007	1	202	Replacement for original #202 which was damaged in delivery
	Gillig Phantom	Detroit Diesel 6V-92TA	38	35'	1988 - 2011	27	207-233
	Gillig Phantom	Detroit Diesel 6V-92TA	43	40'	1992 - 2012	8	234-241
	MCI 102-B3	Detroit Diesel 6V-92TA	47	40'	1993-2012	4	709-712	Sold to Kitsap Transit
	MCI 102-D3SS	Detroit Diesel Series 60	48	40'	1995 - 2012	4	713-716	Sold to Yakima Transit
	Gillig Low Floor	Detroit Diesel Series 40	38	40'	1998 - 2012	3	242-244	Acquired via a "piggyback" on an Intercity Transit order. Scrapped instead of auctioned due to high value of aluminum.
	Gillig Phantom	Cummins M11	45	40'	2010 (1995) - 2013	1	278	Ex C-TRAN 2089. Sold to Grant Transit Authority.
					2010 (1995) - 2014	3	276, 279-280	Ex C-TRAN 2087, 2090, 2098
	Gillig Phantom	Cummins 6CTA8.3	29	30'	2011 (1993) - 2013	2	281-282	Ex-Mason Transit 801,803. Sold to Grant Transit Authority.
	Gillig Phantom	Cummins M11	37	35'	2010 (1995) - 2014	1	275	Ex C-TRAN 2065

Fares

Fares are either by exact cash or pre-purchased ticket or pass. Upon payment of fare, a transfer valid for 90 minutes after arrival at the next transit center can be requested. A day pass is also available from the driver.

Cash Fares, Tickets, and Passes

Type	Cash Fare	10-ride Tickets	Monthly Pass
Regular (Adult)	$1.50	$12.00	$25.00
Youth	$1.00	$8.00	$14.00
Medicare Cardholder & Disabled Persons	$.75	$6.00	$12.50
Senior Citizens (65 years and older) and Children Age 5 and younger (Fixed Route)	Free	N.A.	N.A.
Dial-A-Ride	$1.50	$12.00	$25.00
Premium Dial-A-Ride	$3.00	$25.00	$50.00
Trans + Plus	$3.00	$25.00	$50.00

Other Passes and Special Fares

• All Day Pass - $4.00
• Freedom Pass - $50.00 (All services system pass.)
• Special Event Service - Single Person $1.50 - Family (up to 5 people) $4.00
• Summer Youth Pass - $25.00
• CBC Students ride fixed-route and D-a-R free with their ID Card

Other Ben Franklin Transit services

Contracted Services

Finley Service

• Ben Franklin Transit offers General Public Demand-Response and ADA Paratransit service to the Finley area adjacent to Kennewick. A contractor is used for service to the general public. ADA Paratransit and mobility device-using riders are transported by Dial-a-Ride.

Taxi Feeder Service

• Ben Franklin Transit contracts with a taxi provider to connect areas of the Tri-Cities not served by fixed-route service to the nearest major fixed-route bus stop. Trips cost an additional $1.00 or $3.00 depending on the length of the trip.

Trans+Plus

• To replace fixed-route and D-a-R service which ends at 6:30PM, and which does not run on Sundays, Ben Franklin Transit offers Trans+Plus, on a demand-response basis. Riders can call to reserve a ride each day Monday to Saturday starting at 2PM and ending at 1AM. Sunday rides can be scheduled on Saturday before 12AM. Monday-Saturday the first scheduled rides are at 6:30PM, continuing in 15 minute blocks until the last at 2:00AM. Sundays the first scheduled ride is 7:30AM with rides available until 6:00PM. The standard fare is $3 per ride. When making a ride reservation, the Customer Service Agent will need to know how many people are riding, the departing address and destination address, and if you will need any assistance (i.e., a wheelchair van).

Vanpool / Carpool / Rideshare

Coordinated Vanpool

• BFT-owned vans are available for a monthly fare that is based on the van size and mileage. The cost of fuel, maintenance, and insurance is included in the fare.

Carpool / Rideshare

• Ben Franklin Transit can also help you set up ridesharing with your own vehicle. BFT also participates in RideshareOnline.

References

• KVEWTV.com. Apple Valley Broadcasting. September 18, 2007. "Richland Honors Green Organizations" by Hau Kuiang. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
• Marketwire. January 11, 2008. "O2Diesel Provides Year End Update and Future Outlook. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
• Metro Magazine. "10 Most Improved Transit Systems". p. 21 (PDF p. 2). Retrieved November 14, 2009.
• Metro Magazine. May 8, 2009. "LA Metro wins top APTA Roadeo award". Retrieved November 14, 2009.

External links

The KML file gives a rough approximation of the service area. The PTBA boundary is contiguous with the populated areas, as well as many voting precincts that fill in the gaps.