Ben Franklin Transit

Ben Franklin Transit has a long history of getting our students, staff and community members where they need to go.Parents who have elected to send their children to a school outside their attendance boundary or are out-of-district must provide transportation for their child each day. Secondary students may receive a Youth Ride Free sticker for Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) from their school office. To learn more about BFT, visit www.bft.org.

School Trippers

Ben Franklin Transit runs school-supportive routes (referred to as “school trippers”) for Richland School District high school students. These are modified bus routes that run in tandem with normal routes and are designed to alleviate congestion on buses at the beginning and end of the school day. To remain federally compliant, this service is accessible to all customers, not just students. School Trippers schedules can be found on BFT's website at www.bft.org/services/school-trippers.  

Any questions you may have about utilizing the transit system should be asked of Ben Franklin Transit directly at 509-735-5100.

BFT CONNECT

In addition to routed bus services, Ben Franklin Transit has launched BFT CONNECT, an on-demand ride service that connects riders to the BFT bus network within a designated zone. In transit, this can be considered a first mile/last mile service for those not beginning or ending their bus trip within convenient walking distance to bus stops. There are certainly some areas within Richland where students and their families could consider transit a viable transportation option using BFT CONNECT. There are currently six BFT CONNECT zones throughout the Tri-Cities. Service details and maps of each zone can be found at bft.org/ConnectOnDemand. 

Any questions you may have about utilizing the transit system should be asked of Ben Franklin Transit directly at 509-735-5100.

Snow Detour Procedures 

In snowy or icy conditions, Ben Franklin Transit may adjust routes to ensure the safety of our passengers and employees. BFT Route detours will be announced as soon as possible via the following channels: 

Any questions you may have about utilizing the transit system should be asked of Ben Franklin Transit directly at 509-735-5100.