Pullman reviews six‑year transit plan, eyes new facility and shift toward zero‑emission buses

Pullman Transit presented a six‑year Transit Development Plan and the 2025 annual report to the city council, emphasizing service restoration, fleet planning and a planned facility project. "This public hearing is part of the process of our annual transit development plan, and it is a six‑year look ahead as required by state code," Transit Manager Wayne Thompson said, noting the agency is one of the few city‑operated transit systems in Washington.

Thompson told council the system runs fixed routes and dial‑a‑ride paratransit, employs 43 transit staff when fully staffed and maintains a $1 adult fare for full‑service routes. He said paratransit trips have been roughly 15,000 annually and fixed‑route rides just under 700,000, both well below pre‑pandemic levels. "Diesel consumption went from over 79,000 gallons in 2022 to about 57,000 last year," Thompson said, and the plan includes measures to compare kilowatt‑hour usage as electric vehicles are added.

The plan includes a $20 million facility project in the six‑year outlook and a vehicle amortization schedule to replace older buses (many diesel buses date from 2005–2010). Thompson said staff will return Oct. 13 with a final Transit Development Plan after incorporating council feedback. Council members asked for practical changes—route naming for rider clarity, additional microtransit options, and restoration of Sunday and evening service—and requested a comprehensive operational analysis to examine fares, schedules and service allocation.