Frequent Service Corridor
BACKGROUND
Ben Franklin Transit deployed its first two frequent service routes on June 21, 2021. Route 1 runs from the Knight Street Transit Center to Three Rivers Transit Center, travels to downtown Kennewick and East Pasco via Clearwater Avenue, and ends at the 22nd Avenue Transit Center. Route 3 connects from the 22nd Ave Transit Center and travels through central and downtown Pasco to the Dayton Transfer Point in Kennewick. These routes connect metro areas and are considered Frequent Service Corridor (FSC) routes, providing reliable service at intervals of 15 minutes or less for most of the day. This allows for convenient transfers from other routes without the need to consult a schedule.
THE NEED TO UPDATE FSC ROUTES
The success of the FSC routes has been notable, and BFT is exploring ways to enhance these corridors further and determine the next FSC route to be implemented. Our FSC routes are designed to provide premium service, which means that, in addition to reliable and frequent bus options, the bus stops are comfortable, recognizable, and easily accessible. BFT has identified a few challenges in rider use of specific stops along our FSC routes, and we plan to address these areas to establish safer and more accessible services.
Route 1 and 3 improvements are envisioned to include sidewalk and roadway updates for accessibility and safety, addressing notable sidewalk gaps, ADA challenges, and connectivity obstacles. One example of this is long walking distances when transferring from one route to another by crossing the street. Safe crossings, in some instances, require a walking distance of over 800 feet to the nearest accessible intersection and back to the stop on the other side of the roadway. We also seek to improve narrow or missing sidewalks that approach the bus stops and the comfort of our bus stops along these routes by improving weather protection and visibility.
FSC ROUTE STUDY
A study has begun to evaluate improvement possibilities and coordinate efforts with the cities through which these routes pass. We are considering safety and travel stress and are reviewing existing infrastructure to guide improvement recommendations.
This study began with FSC Route 1 and is focused on key areas that BFT is interested in improving. The study team has evaluated existing conditions and the recent history of usage and has begun discussions with city representatives to discuss possible improvement options. Route improvements are envisioned to allow for more convenient access to bus stops. Such improvements may include sidewalk infill, sidewalk widening, crosswalk striping, protected or signalized crosswalks, or ADA compliance improvements. These improvements include city infrastructure, and we are thus closely coordinating our efforts to align with city standards and goals.
TAKE OUR FREQUENT CORRIDOR ROUTE 1 SURVEY – English
TAKE OUR FREQUENT CORRIDOR ROUTE 1 SURVEY – Spanish
ROUTE 1 PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES
BFT will host two public open house events at Three Rivers Transit Center on Monday, July 14, 2025. The first one will be held from 7 to 9 a.m., and the second one will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. We invite the public to share their thoughts on FSC programming and the improvements being considered in this study.
PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
If you would like to share your ideas with us about Routes 1 and 3, please email us at FSCProject@bft.org or leave comments on the map by pressing the blue “comments” icon on the top right of the screen and clicking on the map.