Red Rose Transit Authority

Last updated
Red Rose Transit Authority
Logo of RRTA.svg
RRTA bus 1907 at Queen Street Station.jpeg
RRTA bus 1907 at Queen Street Station in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
FoundedApril 1, 1976
Headquarters45 Erick Road
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Locale Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Service type Bus
Routes16
Daily ridership11,800 (weekdays, Q2 2024) [1]
Annual ridership1,375,500 (2023) [2]
Chief executiveDave Kilmer
Website redrosetransit.com

The Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) is a transit agency serving Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. RRTA is headquartered in downtown Lancaster. The South Central Transit Authority owns RRTA and the Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA). In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,375,500, or about 11,800 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

Contents

RRTA has routes both within the city of Lancaster, and between Lancaster and other areas of the county. RRTA coordinates a paratransit service, Red Rose Access, which is run by three private transportation providers. RRTA also operates a loop route in downtown Lancaster.

Outside Lancaster city, RRTA buses will stop for passengers who hail them. Inside the city limits, riders must wait at designated stops.

History

Route 16 bus in Millersville inbound to Lancaster RRTA Optima 127.jpg
Route 16 bus in Millersville inbound to Lancaster

The RRTA was formed as an administrative agency by Lancaster city and Lancaster County under the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945. On April 1, 1976, the RRTA became an operating agency after it took over fixed-route service from two private companies. A new operations facility was built in 1979. In 1992, the RRTA consolidated with the Lancaster Integrated Specialized Transportation System, with the paratransit service renamed Red Rose Access. [3]

The name "Red Rose" is a specific reference to the Red Rose of the House of Lancaster, associated lastly with King Henry VII of England. [4]

The Queen Street Station transit center in downtown Lancaster was completed in 2005 on the former site of the Otto Paving and Construction Company building that was built in 1926. Construction on the second phase of the transit center began in September 2009, which added a parking garage, three bus bays, and access to Chestnut Street. [3]

On December 1, 2014, the South Central Transit Authority was formed to oversee RRTA and the Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA) in Berks County. [5]

Route list

Red Rose Transit Authority operates the following routes, most of which run on a hub and spoke type system out of Downtown Lancaster. [6]

RouteLine NameTerminalsPlaces ServedNotes
1
Park City/SoutheastWest Chestnut Street and North Queen Street Park City Center King Street, East End, Clermont Apartments, Neighborhood Services Center, Church Street Towers, Farnum Street East, Queen Street, Lancaster County Convention Center, Queen Street Station, Lemon Street, Franklin & Marshall College, Harrisburg Pike, Dillerville Road, Manheim Pikeoperates Monday-Sunday
2
Park City/6th WardBinns Park on North Queen Street Lancaster General Hospital Health CampusChestnut Street, New Holland Avenue, J. P. McCaskey High School, New Street, Lancaster General Hospital, Duke Street, Orange Street, Queen Street, Queen Street Station, Walnut Street, Buchanan Avenue, President Avenue, Harrisburg Pike, Park City Centeroperates Monday-Sunday
3
Park City/8th WardWest Chestnut Street and North Queen StreetPark City CenterChestnut Street, Duke Street, Lancaster County Courthouse, Vine Street, Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Lancaster, Manor Street, King Street, Queen Street/Prince Street, Queen Street Station, Lancaster Station, Fruitville Pike, Shoppes at Belmont, Red Rose Commons, Manheim Pikeoperates Monday-Sunday.
5
Grandview/RossmereQueen Street StationLancaster Shopping CenterLime Street, Lancaster General Hospital, Liberty Street, Goodwill Industries, Lancaster County Social Services, Catholic High School, Pleasure Road, Calvary Fellowship Homes, Fordney Road, Golden Triangle Shopping Center, Lititz Pikeoperates Monday-Friday
6
Downtown Lancaster LoopQueen Street StationQueen Street StationQueen Street, Lancaster Station, McGovern Avenue, Prince Street, Clipper Magazine Stadium, Prince Street, King Street, Central Market, Penn Square, Lancaster County Convention Center, Queen Streetoperates Monday-Friday, loop route, formerly the Historic Downtown Trolley until August 22, 2019 when trolleys were retired and replaced with buses [7]
10
LititzQueen Street StationNewport and Tollgate roads in Lititz Queen Street/Duke Street, Liberty Street/McGovern Avenue, Lancaster Station, Golden Triangle Shopping Center, Lancaster Shopping Center, Lititz Pike, Neffsville, Kissel Hill, Kissel Hill Plaza, Lititzoperates Monday-Saturday
11
EphrataQueen Street Station Walmart in Ephrata Queen Street/Duke Street, Liberty Street/McGovern Avenue, Lancaster Station, Lancaster Shopping Center, Oregon Pike, Pennsylvania Route 272, Dutch Lanes Bowling Center, Akron, State Street, Main Street, U.S. Route 322 operates Monday-Saturday
12
New HollandQueen Street Station Pennsylvania Route 23 and Tower Road in New Holland or Shady Maple SmorgasbordOrange Street/Chestnut Street, Grandview Shopping Center, New Holland Avenue, Pennsylvania Route 23, Eden, Leola operates Monday-Saturday, limited service to Shady Maple Smorgasbord
13
White HorseBinns Park on North Queen StreetOld Philadelphia Pike and Churchtown Road in Cains Orange Street/Chestnut Street, King Street, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Conestoga View Nursing Home, Harrisburg Area Community College, Pennsylvania Route 340, Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse, White Horse operates Monday-Saturday
14
Rockvale SquareQueen Street StationRockvale SquareOrange Street/Chestnut Street, King Street, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Conestoga View Nursing Home, Lincoln Highway, Walmart, East Towne Centre, Tanger Outlets, Dutch Wonderland, Quality Outlet Shopping Centeroperates Monday-Sunday
15
Willow StreetQueen Street StationWillow Valley Square in Willow Street Queen Street/Prince Street, Willow Street Pike, Kendig Square, Willow Valley Manor, Willow Valley Lakes Manor, Peach Bottom Road, Willow Street Pikeoperates Monday-Saturday
16
MillersvilleQueen Street StationHillview Drive and Lee Avenue in Millersville Manor Avenue, Manor Center Weis Market, Millersville Pike, Manor Avenue, Millersville University operates Monday-Sunday
17
ColumbiaQueen Street Station3rd and Linden streets in Columbia or Marietta Square in Marietta Orange Street/King Street, Stone Mill Plaza, Columbia Avenue, Pennsylvania Route 462, Mountville, The Shops at Prospect, Columbiaoperates Monday-Sunday, limited service to Marietta
18
Elizabethtown/Mount JoyQueen Street Station Elizabethtown Station or Nordstrom Distribution CenterChestnut Street/Walnut Street, Lancaster Regional Medical Center, Marietta Avenue, Landisville, Pennsylvania Route 230, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown operates Monday-Saturday, limited service to Nordstrom Distribution Center
19
ManheimQueen Street StationHazel and High streets in Manheim Queen Street/Prince Street, Lancaster Station, Red Rose Commons, Fruitville Pike, Hawthorne Plaza, Granite Run Industrial Park, Pennsylvania Route 72, East Petersburg, Manheimoperates Monday-Saturday
20
GreenfieldQueen Street StationGreenfield Corporate CenterOrange Street/Chestnut Street, King Street, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Conestoga View Nursing Home, Harrisburg Area Community Collegeoperates Monday-Friday
21
GapQueen Street StationGap Shopping CenterOrange Street/Chestnut Street, King Street, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Conestoga View Nursing Home, Lincoln Highway, Walmart, East Towne Centre, Tanger Outlets, Dutch Wonderland, Quality Outlet Shopping Center, Rockvale Square, U.S. Route 30, Paradise, Kinzers, Urban Outfitters Distribution Center, Gap operates Monday-Saturday
MU X
MU XpressSMC at Millersville UniversitySMC at Millersville UniversityMillersville Universityoperates Monday-Friday when university is in session, loop route around campus
MU PCX
MU Park City XpressMillersville UniversityPark City CenterGeorge Street, Manor Avenue, Millersville Road, Rohrerstown Road, Lancaster General Hospital Health Campusoperates Monday-Sunday when university is in session

Fares

RRTA bus fares are based on zones radiating out from Lancaster. The base cash fare is $1.70, while Zone 1 costs $1.85, Zone 2 costs $2.15, Zone 3 costs $2.50 and Zone 4 costs $2.90. Transfers to another bus route are available and cost $0.05 for the base zone, $0.20 for Zone 1, $0.50 for Zone 2, $0.85 for Zone 3, and $1.25 for Zone 4. Students in K-12 schools pay a reduced fare of $1.35 for the base zone, $1.50 for Zone 1, $1.80 for Zone 2, $2.15 for Zone 3, and $2.55 for Zone 4. [8] Millersville University students with their university ID can ride the Route 16, MU Xpress, and MU Park City Xpress for free when the university is in session. [9] Persons with disabilities pay half fare, which costs $0.85 for the base zone, $0.90 for Zone 1, $1.05 for Zone 2, $1.25 for Zone 3, and $1.45 for Zone 4. Senior citizens age 65 or older ride RRTA buses for free. [8]

RRTA offers various bus passes for riders. The All Day Pass, which allows for unlimited rides in a single day, can be bought onboard buses and at sales outlets and costs $3.40 for up to two zones and $5.25 for all zones. The 10 Ride Pass, which allows for 10 one-way rides, costs $12.00 for the base zone, $13.50 for Zone 1, $15.50 for Zone 2, $18.50 for Zone 3, and $21.50 for Zone 4. The 31 Day Pass, which allows for unlimited rides over a 31-day period, costs $35.00 for the base zone, $40.00 for Zone 1, $47.00 for Zone 2, $55.00 for Zone 3, and $64.00 for Zone 4. The Half Fare 10 Ride Pass, which allows for 10 one-way rides for persons with disabilities, costs $6.00 for the base zone, $6.75 for Zone 1, $7.75 for Zone 2, $9.25 for Zone 3, and $10.75 for Zone 4. [10]

Transit facilities

Queen Street Station

Queen Street Station in downtown Lancaster RRTA Queen Street Station entrance.jpeg
Queen Street Station in downtown Lancaster

The Queen Street Station transit center located in downtown Lancaster serves 11 of RRTA's bus routes. The transit center contains shelters and benches in a park-like setting for riders waiting for their buses. The RRTA Information Center is located at Queen Street Station and contains a waiting area, restrooms, sales outlet, bike racks, snack machines, ATM, and television. [11] A parking garage with 395 spaces is located adjacent to Queen Street Station. [12]

Park and ride locations

RRTA operates nine park and ride lots across Lancaster County: [13]

Fleet

Fleet Number(s)YearManufacturerModelEngineTransmissionSource
183 3/2012GilligBRT HEV G30D102N4Cummins ISBBAE Hybrid [14]
185-187 2013GilligBRT HEV G30B102N4Cummins ISBBAE Hybrid [14]
188-197 2015GilligBRT HEV 35'Cummins ISBBAE Systems HDS200 [14]
1601–1604 2016GilligBRT HEV 35'Cummins ISBBAE Systems HDS200 [14]
1701–1705 2017GilligBRT HEV 35'Cummins ISBBAE Systems HDS200 [14]
1706–1708 2017GilligBRT HEV 40'Cummins ISBBAE Systems HDS2000 [14]
1813–1814 2018GilligBRT HEV 35'Cummins ISBBAE Systems HDS200 [14]
1815–1817 2018GilligBRT 29'Cummins ISL [14]
1906–1911 2019GilligBRT HEV 35'Cummins ISBBAE Systems HDS200 [14]
2101-2103 2021Gillig Low Floor Plus HEV 35'Cummins ISBBAE Systems HDS200 [14]
22022022GilligLow Floor Plus HEV 35'Cummins ISBBAE Hybrid

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References

  1. "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  2. "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "History". Red Rose Transit Authority. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  4. Red Rose Transit Authority, Personal Communication, December 12, 2020.
  5. "About the South Central Transit Authority". South Central Transit Authority. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  6. "Bus Schedules". Red Rose Transit Authority. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  7. "Historic Trolley Route has a new name – Route 6/Downtown Lancaster Loop". Red Rose Transit Authority. August 22, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Cash Fares". Red Rose Transit Authority. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  9. "Millersville University Bus Services" (PDF). Red Rose Transit Authority. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  10. "Buy Passes". Red Rose Transit Authority. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  11. "Transit Center". Red Rose Transit Authority. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  12. "Parking Garage-Location". Red Rose Transit Authority. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  13. "Park N' Ride Services". Red Rose Transit Authority. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Red Rose Transit Authority". Philadelphia Transit Vehicles. Retrieved September 18, 2019.