Ben Franklin Transit outlines new routes and budget as residents and commissioners press for accountability

Ben Franklin Transit Chief Planning and Development Officer Kevin Sliger told the Franklin County Board of Commissioners on May 27 that BFT provided roughly 3.6 million rides across all modes in 2025 and is rolling out several new services aimed at Franklin County riders.

Sliger said the agency’s service area covers Benton and Franklin counties and that about a third of BFT’s ridership comes from Franklin County. He highlighted a new Route 61 serving downtown Pasco and the Columbia Basin Veterans Center, a single morning express trip to the Amazon facility to match early shifts, and grant‑funded shuttles for four fan‑zone events tied to World Cup watch parties. He also described the Wheat Line, an intercity shuttle funded through the state that will serve Connell and Mesa by reservation.

On finances, Sliger said BFT’s 2026 operating budget is $65,000,000, the six‑year capital program is $205,000,000, and planned capital spending for 2026 is between $20 million and $25 million. He said the system’s approved headcount is 429, base fares run about $1.50 and veterans ride free under a program that recorded nearly 35,000 veteran boardings in 2025.

Multiple residents and at least one commissioner pressed Sliger about a figure he described as the agency’s reserve—about $90 million—questioning whether that level of reserves is appropriate given local needs such as mental‑health services. Commissioner (speaker 3) and members of the public cited examples of buses running nearly empty and argued taxpayers deserve clearer justification for service levels and reserve policies.

Sliger defended the agency’s mix of services, saying ridership patterns and grant criteria affect how routes are operated. He described BFT’s microtransit product, Connect, as an on‑demand service intended for low‑density areas; Sliger said fixed routes can move more people per hour and that on‑demand trips average higher cost‑per‑boarding ($25–$30) versus roughly $7–$8 per boarding on fixed routes.

The commissioners also asked about BFT’s electric‑bus rollout after a commissioner read recent news reporting problems in other Washington fleets. Sliger said BFT currently operates two electric buses out of a fleet of 71 vehicles, has two chargers installed that can be 'daisy chained' to serve additional vehicles, and intends a cautious, phased approach. He said the two electric buses in service were manufactured by Gillig.

Sliger said some grant funding and state incentives factor into procurement choices, and that there is no statewide mandate requiring buses to be electric at this time. He also noted that certain state transit support funds tied to youth discounts make BFT eligible for recurring operating and special‑needs funds and that those programs may be under discussion beyond 2030.

Next steps: Sliger offered to return for routine updates and to follow up on questions about public initiative mechanisms for changing the transit sales‑tax rate. Several residents urged the commission to explore options to redirect portions of transit revenue toward mental‑health recovery services or place rate changes on a ballot.