Ben Franklin Transit updating service plan

Ben Franklin Transit is updating its service plan to keep abreast of growth and other changes in the Tri-Cities.

The regional transit agency could make immediate changes while it contemplates a longer-term plan to improve efficiencies and expand its services. A series of open houses this week coupled with an ongoing evaluation will guide decision makers this spring, said Tony Kalmbach, service development manager.

The draft is due in March.

The Tri-City population grew roughly 22.5 percent over the past decade, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Over the same period, the number of local jobs grew almost 12 percent to 120,000, according to state employment figures.

Though Tri-City workers are less likely to use public transit than the national average, population and job growth contribute to ridership gains. According to census-based research, 1.9 percent of local workers commute by transit compared to 5.9 percent nationally.

BFT is an independent government agency that relies on sales tax revenue for 65 percent of its revenue. It is being led by interim General Manager Gloria Boyce while the board searches for a new general manager. Dennis Solensky left the post in May after less than a year on the job.

Ben Franklin Transit employs 265 and operates 21 fixed routes serving Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, West Richland, Benton City and Prosser. It operates the 279-vehicle Vanpool program and provides additional services to Walla Walla, Hermiston, Pendleton and Yakima.

Its 2014 budget of $36 million was funded by $27.86 million in sales tax receipts, $4.49 million in state and federal grants and $4.2 million in passenger fares. It tallied 2.8 million riders during the year.

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Ben Franklin Transit updating service plan."