{{Short description|Public transit operator in Walla Walla, Washington, U.S.}} {{Infobox bus company | name = Valley Transit | logo = Valley Transit logo.svg | logo_size = 180 | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | commenced = {{start date|1981|01|05}} | headquarters = 1401 West Rose Street<br />Walla Walla, Washington | locale = Walla Walla County, Washington | service_type = Bus service | routes = 11 | stops = | fleet = 37 vehicles | ridership = | annual_ridership = 502,014 (2024)<ref>{{cite web |date=October 9, 2025 |title=Annual Agency Profile – Valley Transit |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2024/00064.pdf |work=National Transit Database |publisher=Federal Transit Administration |accessdate=November 23, 2025}}</ref> | fuel_type = Diesel, gasoline, electric | leader_type = General manager | leader = Angelic Peters | website = {{URL|http://www.valleytransit.com/|valleytransit.com}} }}
'''Valley Transit''' is a public transit operator in Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. It operates 11 routes in the cities of Walla Walla and College Place. Since 2022, Valley Transit's buses have been fare-free.
==History==
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.<ref name="History">{{cite web |title=History of Valley Transit |url=http://www.valleytransit.com/framesets/history.htm |publisher=Valley Transit |accessdate=July 14, 2016 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305062954/http://www.valleytransit.com/framesets/history.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In its first year of operation, the system carried 435,500 passengers.<ref>{{WSDOT Public Transit Summary |year=1984NTL |chapter=Local Transit Statewide: Valley Transit |pages=135–140 |oclc=13007541 |link=yes |link2=yes |accessdate=July 12, 2016}}</ref>
Until 1997, Valley Transit operated an intercity route to Milton-Freewater, Oregon, through an intergovernmental agreement;<ref>{{WSDOT Public Transit Summary |year=1996NTL |chapter=Valley Transit (Walla Walla County) |page=113 |accessdate=July 12, 2016}}</ref> it has since been replaced by a bus operated by the city government of Milton-Freewater.<ref>{{cite news |last=Diaz |first=Alfred |date=July 12, 2016 |title=Milton-Freewater opts to drop fares for buses |url=http://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local_governments/milton_freewater/milton-freewater-opts-to-drop-fares-for-buses/article_1819abb2-4854-11e6-b69f-571909ce6e1a.html |work=Walla Walla Union-Bulletin |accessdate=July 14, 2016}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Special Election Results: February 9, 2010 |url=https://wei.sos.wa.gov/county/wallawalla/en/elections/ArchivedElections/pages/february09_2010.aspx |publisher=Walla Walla County Auditor |accessdate=July 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Alexander |first=Whitman |date=February 9, 2010 |title=Walla Walla voters pass sales tax increase to maintain Valley Transit services |url=http://whitmanpioneer.com/news/2010/02/09/voters-pass-measure-to-maintain-valley-transit-services/ |work=Whitman Pioneer |accessdate=July 14, 2016 |archive-date=July 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701111117/http://whitmanpioneer.com/news/2010/02/09/voters-pass-measure-to-maintain-valley-transit-services/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=LeValley |first=Chloe |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Walla Walla Valley Transit rolls out phased approach to bring back services |url=https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/governments/walla-walla-valley-transit-rolls-out-phased-approach-to-bring-back-services/article_29d501ce-7b40-5be1-9bd3-8dd2a56bb54e.html |work=Walla Walla Union-Bulletin |accessdate=July 28, 2023}}</ref> Normal services were restored in March 2023 after staffing levels had recovered.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Kate |date=March 28, 2023 |title=Walla Walla's Valley Transit returns to full service, and it's free to ride |url=https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/governments/walla-walla-s-valley-transit-returns-to-full-service-and-it-s-free-to-ride/article_0c07f2ec-ca7b-11ed-87c6-cfb3fbca43bd.html |work=Walla Walla Union-Bulletin |accessdate=July 28, 2023}}</ref> The agency adopted plans to use a fleet of nine battery electric buses, with five in an initial order from BYD Auto; the first three buses delivered in 2025 were sent back to the manufacturer due to defects found during inspections.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eastham |first=Julia |date=May 1, 2025 |title=Valley Transit's new electric buses rollout delayed |url=https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/business/valley-transit-s-new-electric-buses-rollout-delayed/article_3f37f260-198f-4341-9722-3a4eba03a3d0.html |work=Walla Walla Union-Bulletin |accessdate=November 23, 2025}}</ref>
==Routes== thumb|right|Market Station in downtown Walla Walla, the main hub of Valley Transit
{{As of|2023}}, Valley Transit operates 10 routes in Walla Walla and surrounding communities. These routes generally run every 30 to 60 minutes from Monday to Saturdays.<ref name="Info">{{cite web |title=Rider Info |url=https://www.valleytransit.com/rider-info/ |publisher=Valley Transit |accessdate=July 28, 2023}}</ref>
The agency also connects to several intercity bus routes, operated by other providers, at the Walla Walla Transit Center in downtown Walla Walla:<ref>{{cite web |title=Intercity Travel |url=http://www.valleytransit.com/framesets/intercity.htm |publisher=Valley Transit |accessdate=July 14, 2016 |archive-date=August 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819085031/http://www.valleytransit.com/framesets/intercity.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Travel Washington's Grape Line, operating 3 daily round trips to Pasco *Kayak Public Transit, operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation *Milton-Freewater Bus to Milton-Freewater, Oregon *Columbia County Public Transportation to Dayton and Prescott
==Fares==
Valley Transit began offering fare-free bus and dial-a-ride service during the summer in the mid-2010s to boost ridership.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hillhouse |first=Vicki |date=May 25, 2016 |title=Valley Transit set for another fare-free summer |url=http://www.union-bulletin.com/local_columnists/strictly_business/valley-transit-set-for-another-fare-free-summer/article_b252144c-229f-11e6-a423-bb6684c855fc.html |work=Walla Walla Union-Bulletin |accessdate=July 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=LeValley |first=Chloe |date=May 23, 2021 |title=Valley Transit riders can ride for free this summer on most services |url=https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/valley-transit-riders-can-ride-for-free-this-summer-on-most-services/article_8d886f58-ba7f-11eb-ae2a-47f78eb8ced1.html |work=Walla Walla Union-Bulletin |accessdate=July 28, 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dinman |first=Emry |date=June 13, 2022 |title=Walla Walla's Valley Transit eliminates most fares for riders until 2026 |url=https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/governments/walla-wallas-valley-transit-eliminates-most-fares-for-riders-until-2026/article_b055c546-e835-11ec-8e11-0bed066629f9.html |work=Walla Walla Union-Bulletin |accessdate=July 28, 2023}}</ref>
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.<ref name="Info"/> Valley Transit began using smartphone payments through Token Transit in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last=Monserud |first=Andy |date=March 30, 2018 |title=Valley Transit rolls out easy-pay app |url=https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/valley-transit-rolls-out-easy-pay-app/article_9f2fc5d8-3442-11e8-98c0-5bdc2b47d7fe.html |work=Walla Walla Union-Bulletin |accessdate=July 28, 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://www.valleytransit.com/}}
Category:Bus transportation in Washington (state) Category:Transit agencies in Washington (state) Category:Transportation in Walla Walla County, Washington Category:Free public transport