# Link Transit

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Bus operator in Chelan and Douglas counties, Washington, U.S.

For the light rail system in Seattle, see [Link light rail](/source/Link_light_rail).

Link Transit Link Transit buses at Columbia Station Founded November 21, 1989 (1989-11-21) Commenced operation December 16, 1991 (1991-12-16) Headquarters 2700 Euclid Avenue Wenatchee, WA 98801 Locale Wenatchee–East Wenatchee metropolitan area Service type Bus service, paratransit Routes 18 Stops 573 Fleet 65 buses and paratransit vehicles[1] Daily ridership 3,610 (2014) Annual ridership 987,376 (2014) Fuel type Diesel General Manager Nick Covey Website www.linktransit.com

**Link Transit** is the [public transit](/source/Public_transit) authority of [Chelan](/source/Chelan_County%2C_Washington) and [Douglas](/source/Douglas_County%2C_Washington) counties in the [U.S. state](/source/U.S._state) of [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)). It operates [fixed bus](/source/Transit_bus) and [paratransit](/source/Paratransit) services between 17 communities in the [Wenatchee–East Wenatchee metropolitan area](/source/Wenatchee%E2%80%93East_Wenatchee_metropolitan_area), including the cities of [Chelan](/source/Chelan%2C_Washington), [Leavenworth](/source/Leavenworth%2C_Washington), [Waterville](/source/Waterville%2C_Washington) and [Wenatchee](/source/Wenatchee%2C_Washington). In 2014, Link Transit carried 987,376 passengers on its 18 bus routes.[1]

It is one of only two [public transportation benefit areas](/source/Public_transportation_benefit_area), along with [Ben Franklin Transit](/source/Ben_Franklin_Transit) in the [Tri-Cities](/source/Tri-Cities%2C_Washington), to cover more than one county.[2] The **Chelan-Douglas Public Transportation Benefit Area** was founded in November 1989 and a 0.4% [sales tax](/source/Sales_tax) was approved by voters in September 1990 to fund a bus system. The Link Transit moniker was adopted shortly before bus service began on December 16, 1991.[1] Link Transit was initially a [fare-free system](/source/Free_public_transport) until February 2000.[3]

## Routes

An electric bus operated by Link Transit on Route A

Link Transit operates 18 bus routes, with service operating from Monday through Sunday. 3 of these routes are "trolley" routes using [trolley-replica buses](/source/Trolley-replica_bus) branded as "The Current", running [electric battery buses](/source/Battery_electric_bus) and not charging fares; 6 are intercity routes connecting Wenatchee to outlying communities via major highways; and one is a season route to the [Mission Ridge Ski Area](/source/Mission_Ridge_Ski_Area), branded as "SkiLink", which is free for pass holders to the resort.[4][5][6]: 3 Link Transit also operates one [dial-a-ride](/source/Dial-a-ride) service in Leavenworth.[7]

Most of these bus routes connect to the three main [transit centers](/source/Transit_center) in Wenatchee and its suburbs: [Columbia Station](/source/Columbia_Station_(Washington)), [Wenatchee Valley Mall](/source/Wenatchee_Valley_Mall) in East Wenatchee, and [Olds Station](/source/Olds_Station%2C_Washington) Park & Ride. Most routes also operate in loops with one-way segments.

### Bus routes

Route Inbound terminus Outbound terminus Via Bi-directional Saturday service Notes 1 Columbia Station Methow Street, Crawford Avenue, Miller Street, Russell Street, Ferry Street No Yes 5 Columbia Station Walmart Cherry Street, Western Avenue, Fifth Street, Wenatchee Valley College, Maple Street No Yes 7 Columbia Station Ninth Street, Wenatchee Valley College, Western Avenue, Washington Street No Yes 8W/8E Columbia Station Wenatchee Valley Mall, Olds Station Park and Ride, Central Washington Hospital Yes Yes Routes split by direction 11 Wenatchee Valley Mall Eastmont Avenue, 4th Street, Kentucky Avenue, 3rd Street, 5th Street, 8th Street Yes (route 12) No Running in opposite direction as route 12 12 Wenatchee Valley Mall 8th Street, 5th Street, 3rd Street, Kentucky Avenue, 4th Street, Eastmont Avenue Yes (route 11) No Running in opposite direction as route 11

### Intercity routes

Route Inbound terminus Outbound terminus Via Off-peak service Saturday service Notes 20 Columbia Station Manson Orondo, Chelan No No 21 Columbia Station Manson Entiat, Chelan Yes Yes 22 Columbia Station Leavenworth Olds Station, Cashmere, Peshastin Yes Yes 23 Columbia Station Rock Island East Wenatchee Yes Yes 24 Columbia Station Malaga Yes Yes 25 Columbia Station Waterville East Wenatchee, Orondo No No 26 Columbia Station Ardenvoir Olds Station, Entiat No No 28 Columbia Station Cashmere Olds Station Yes Yes 40 (SkiLink) Olds Station Columbia Station, East Wenatchee Mission Ridge Ski Area No Yes Seasonal route, only operates from November to April primarily on weekends

### Shuttle and urban routes

Shuttle routes are fare-free and run at higher frequencies.

Route Inbound terminus Outbound terminus Via Saturday service Notes A Columbia Station Wenatchee Valley Mall Mission Street Yes Replaced route 19 B Columbia Station Wenatchee Valley College Worthen Street, Riverside Drive, Fifth Street Yes C Columbia Station Wenatchee Valley Medical Center Wenatchee Avenue Yes Replaced route 9 D Wilkommen Park and Ride Icicle River Road Highway 2 Yes E Johnson and Columbia (Chelan) Lakeside Park, Don Morse Park Yes Seasonal service during summer

## Fleet

Link Transit operates [electric buses](/source/Battery_electric_bus), powered by batteries, on its "Current" frequent routes in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. The first batch of five buses manufactured by [EBus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=EBus&action=edit&redlink=1) was delivered in 2014 and funded by a $2.9 million grant from the [Federal Transit Administration](/source/Federal_Transit_Administration) (FTA).[8][9] In 2016, the FTA awarded a $3.8 million grant to Link Transit to purchase additional electric buses to replace older diesel vehicles;[10] Link Transit awarded a four-bus order to [BYD Auto](/source/BYD_Auto) for their [K9](/source/BYD_K9) electric buses.[11]

Link Transit received its BYD electric buses in 2017 and outfitted one with an experimental wireless 200 kW charger, the first of its kind in the United States.[12]

### Current Bus Fleet

- *As of December 31, 2014[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Link_Transit&action=edit)*[13]: 26–29

Year Manufacturer Model Fleet numbers Fuel type Notes 1999 Gillig Phantom 327–332 Diesel 329 is retired. 2000 Chance AH-28 504, 507 Diesel Formerly used on trolley routes 2003 Gillig Low Floor 333–337 Diesel 2004 Gillig Low Floor 305–308 Diesel 2005 Gillig Low Floor 309–312 Diesel 2007 Gillig Low Floor 313–315 Diesel 2008 Gillig Low Floor 316–326 Diesel 2010 EBus 22T 803–806 Electric battery Branded for "The Current" trolley routes

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LT-About_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LT-About_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-LT-About_1-2) ["About Link Transit"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160420230936/http://www.linktransit.com/more-link/about/about-link-transit). Link Transit. Archived from [the original](http://www.linktransit.com/more-link/about/about-link-transit) on April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-OFM-PTBA_2-0)** Kimpel, Thomas (September 27, 2013). ["2013 Public Transportation Benefit Area Population Estimates"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140203105608/http://ofm.wa.gov/pop/special/ptba.pdf) (PDF). Washington State Office of Financial Management. Archived from [the original](http://www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/special/ptba.pdf) (PDF) on February 3, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Wheat, Dan (November 17, 1999). "No more free rides: Link board approves rider fees, drastic service cutbacks". *[The Wenatchee World](/source/The_Wenatchee_World)*. p. A1.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["SkiLink"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160421023619/http://www.linktransit.com/services-programs/skilink). Link Transit. Archived from [the original](http://www.linktransit.com/services-programs/skilink) on April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["All Routes"](http://www.linktransit.com/routes-maps). Link Transit. Retrieved April 21, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*Link Transit Ride Guide*](http://www.linktransit.com/images/stories/routes/BOOK%2044.pdf) (PDF). Link Transit. July 6, 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150907181400/http://www.linktransit.com/images/stories/routes/BOOK%2044.pdf) (PDF) from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["DART Services"](http://www.linktransit.com/services-programs/dart-services). Link Transit. Retrieved April 21, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Link Transit launched Five Battery-electric Trolleys"](http://www.masstransitmag.com/press_release/12029899/link-transit-launched-five-battery-electric-trolleys). *[Mass Transit Magazine](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mass_Transit_Magazine&action=edit&redlink=1)*. December 22, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Electric Trolley Buses Cut Energy Use, Emissions at Link Transit"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160202143114/http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/CLEAN_ENERGY_Wenatchee_Link_Transit_case_study.pdf) (PDF). Federal Transit Administration. August 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/CLEAN_ENERGY_Wenatchee_Link_Transit_case_study.pdf) (PDF) on February 2, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Feds to give Link $3.8 million for more electric buses"](https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2016/jul/21/feds-to-give-link-38-million-for-more-electric-buses/). *[Wenatchee World](/source/Wenatchee_World)*. July 21, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Link Transit Orders First 4 BYD Electric Buses"](http://www.byd.com/usa/news-posts/link-transit-orders-first-4-byd-electric-buses/) (Press release). [BYD Auto](/source/BYD_Auto). March 22, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Bernstein, Dave (March 15, 2018). ["LINK Transit first in nation with wireless e-bus charging"](http://www.kpq.com/link-transit-first-nation-wireless-e-bus-charging/). [KPQ](/source/KPQ-FM). Retrieved April 4, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-TDP_13-0)** [Transit Development Plan 2015—2020 And 2014 Annual Report](http://www.linktransit.com/images/stories/about/Approved%202015-2020%20TDP%20&%202014%20Annual%20Report.pdf) (PDF) (Report). Link Transit. August 18, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2016.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.linktransit.com/)

- Media related to [Link Transit](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Link_Transit) at Wikimedia Commons

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Link Transit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_Transit) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_Transit?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.