

ValleyRide bus services to implement service changes beginning Thursday, October 1 for Boise/Garden City and intercounty service, and Monday, October 5 in Nampa/Caldwell

Valley Regional Transit (VRT) has been working towards improving service in Ada County and Canyon County in 2020. Our goal with these changes is to maximize the effectiveness of existing transit resources and connect more people to more places more often. Public transportation is important to the future of Ada County communities and there is public support for and interest in transit. The public wants more transit service during the commute period, in the evening, and on weekends. Transit is viewed as a benefit to employees.

The changes that will be implemented this fall with come in two stages:

On October 1 , a ll ValleyRide bus routes in Boise/Garden City and intercounty routes will have new schedule times. Changes to each route can be accessed by clicking on the hyperlinks on the right-hand column of this page or by scrolling down. We also will be providing new service to the city of Eagle via the #9 State Street.

, a On October 5, the existing fixed-route service in Nampa/Caldwell will switch to an on-demand service. Routes 51, 52 and 55 will be eliminated. You will be able to schedule a ride between any two bus stops with the on-demand service. The new bus service will be identified as VRT150 OnDemand.

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October 1, 2020 changes inBoise/Garden City and intercounty service

On-time performance

We are seeking to improve on-time performance by reducing the number of timepoints to roughly 10-minute intervals. All ValleyRide routes will see timing adjustments. To view the timing changes to your specific route(s), click on the links on the right-hand side of this page.

New schedules

This will include streamlining schedule design and highlighting the destinations accessible by each route to improving the information accessible to passengers.

Summary of changes

Route 1 - New pathway on Parkcenter. Will no longer provide service on Apple, Bown and Boise Avenue.

Route 2 – Later service until 9:30 p.m. on weekdays. New pathway on Front Street. Route will no longer provide service on Idaho.

Route 4 – New route pathway on River Street. Will no longer travel on 13th and Shoreline Drive.

Route 9 – Limited service to Eagle (four a.m. and three p.m. trips). Inbound trips from Eagle will have a new pathway at Saxton.

Routes 3, 7A, 7B, and 9 – Later service until 9:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Routes 8 and 8X - The Chinden @ HP stop has been renamed Chinden @ State of Idaho Campus.



Bus stop construction schedule

1 Harris Ranch via Parkcenter

Boardings per hour (FY 2019): 17.9

On-time performance: 55.3%

Change

Maintaining 30-minute peak service.

Stay on Parkcenter Boulevard rather than using Boise Avenue between Apple Street and Bown Crossing.

Benefits of Change

These actions are designed to reduce travel time and improve on-time performance, making it easier to connect to other services at Main Street Station.

Impacts of Change

Route 1 would no longer serve Boise Avenue or Apple Street. Riders who use the 1 on Boise Avenue can catch the 2 Broadway to connect with downtown Boise or Boise State University. The closest bus stop to the current stops on Apple are either at Boise and Apple or Parkcenter Boulevard and Apple.

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2 Broadway

Boardings per hour (FY 2019): 11.7

On-time performance: 75.3%

Change

Adding 30-minute evening services until 9 p.m.

Use Front Street rather than Idaho Street between Broadway Avenue and Main Street Station.

Benefits of Change

Using Front Street rather than Idaho Street will shorten the amount of time it takes to get to Main Street Station and improve the routes on-time performance.

Stopping on Front makes new direct connections to the Ada County Courthouse and development along Front.

Increasing evening service on the 2 Broadway will provide more travel options to the high-ridership area of Southeast Boise.

Impacts of Change

The change will require riders going to St Luke’s or other destinations on Idaho Street to walk farther. May have to take an additional route.

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3 Vista

Boardings per hour (FY 2019): 13.7

On-time performance: 79.3%

Change

Increase Saturday service to run until 9 p.m.

Benefits of Change

Enhancing weekend service provides more travel options to and from the airport. Moves toward best-in-class levels of service.

Impacts of Change

Riders will have more opportunities to travel on Vista on Saturday, both during the day and later at night.

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4 Roosevelt

Boardings per hour (FY 2019): 8.5

On-time performance: 65.7%

Change

The bus will follow the 5 Emerald between Main Street Station and Americana Boulevard.

Benefits of Change

This removes the delay caused by the left turn from Front Street on to 13th.

Impacts of Change

Riders using the stops on 13th and Shoreline Drive will have to walk to the stops on River Street or Americana, a distance of less than a quarter-mile.

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7A/7B Fairview

7A boardings per hour (FY 2019): 13.6

7B boardings per hour (FY 2019): 19.6

On-time performance: 7A -55.3%; 7B - 67.7%

Change

Increase Saturday service to run until 9 p.m.

Benefits of Change

People on Fairview will be able to take the bus later in the evening on Saturday.

Impacts of Change

People will be able to get more places on transit on Saturday.

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9 State Street

Boardings per hour (FY 2019): 18.6

On-time performance: 72.8%

Change

Adding 1.25 hours of 15-minute service on State Street. Current 15-minute span runs from 6:45-9:15 a.m. and 4:00-6:15 p.m.

Increase Saturday service to run until 9 p.m.

Extend route to Ballantyne Park & Ride in Eagle for four a.m. round trips and three p.m. round trips in each peak period. Additional bus stops in Eagle.

Trip to Eagle Trip to Boise Main Street Station Ballantyne Park & Ride Ballantyne Park & Ride Main Street Station 6:00 AM 6:32 AM 6:32 AM 7:16 AM 6:30 AM 7:02 AM 7:02 AM 7:46 AM 7:00 AM 7:32 AM 7:32 AM 8:16 AM 7:30 AM 8:02 AM 8:02 AM 8:53 AM 4:30 PM 5:06 PM 5:06 PM 5:51 PM 5:00 PM 5:36 PM 5:36 PM 6:21 PM 5:30 PM 6:06 PM 6:06 PM 6:51 PM

Bus stops:

Ballantyne Park & Ride

State and Olde Park

Stierman/Flagstone and State

Edgewood and Riverside

Riverside and Pacific

Carlton Bay and Horseshoe Bend

Benefits of change

More service on State Street means people will be able to get to work faster and use transit more on the weekend.

Extended service to Eagle means more people will be able to get to work in downtown Boise or Eagle on transit.

Impacts of Change

Some trips at Gary and Bunch will continue to Eagle so riders will need to pay attention to the direction of service during rush hours.

Some trips at Saxton and State to Boise will serve a new stop on the west side of Saxton so riders will need to pay attention during rush hours.

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October 5, 2020 service changes in Canyon County

The ValleyRide fixed route system in Nampa/Caldwell will change to an on-demand service beginning Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. This service change will provide for better transit flexibility. You will be able to book a trip between any two existing bus stops or any of the 200 virtual bus stops.

Due to this changeover in how we will provide bus service service, we will be eliminating routes 51, 52 and 55.

How will the new service work? You can request a ride by downloading a mobile app (not yet available), by calling the Help Desk at 208-345-7433, or online at valleyregionaltransit.org. WE WILL UPDATE THIS WEBPAGE TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN START SCHEDULING RIDES. ON-DEMAND SERVICE IN NAMPA/CALDWELL WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 5.

Download the printed informational brochure/map of the new service.

Why are you making this change?

Revenue and ridership in Canyon County have not kept up with cost or performance expectations. Attempts to adjust service levels and routes within those resources continue to lead to low quality services and continuing poor system performance. Accordingly, VRT staff evaluated Canyon County local services to determine how those services could be redesigned to be more productive within the limited resources currently available.

VRT researched and evaluated innovative approaches to transit and determined an on-demand transit system has a high probability of achieving the desired results for the services within the existing financial constraints.

VRT staff expects to build new ridership contracts and/or funding partnerships with the expanded service area. Staff also expects to see increased efficiencies and higher ridership revenue over the term of the on-demand pilot term. If this pilot is successful, it will become the model for on demand transit within other VRT service area.

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