| Grant Transit Authority | |
| Headquarters: | 116 W 5th Ave Moses Lake, Washington |
| Locale: | Grant County, Washington |
| Service Type: | Bus service |
| Routes: | 13 |
| Annual Ridership: | 39,215 |
| Fuel Type: | Diesel |
| Leader Type: | General Manager |
| Leader: | Greg Wright |
The Grant Transit Authority is a public transit operator in Grant County, Washington. It operates 13 routes, including intercity services that converge in the city of Moses Lake. The agency's routes have been zero-fare since 2020.
Grant Transit Authority began as a demonstration project with four buses in November 1995. The project, deemed a success after one year, led to a November 1996 vote to establish a public transportation benefit area (PTBA) to fund a permanent system. The vote passed, creating a 0.2 percent sales tax and allowing regular service to begin and expand the following year.[1] The first buses began operating on November 5, 1996.[2]
The PTBA boundaries were expanded in 1998 to include Quincy, which had opted out of the 1996 vote, thus encompassing all of Grant County.[1] The Grant Transit Authority previously partnered with a local non-profit organization, People for People, for operations but became independent in October 2013.[1]
In 2015, construction began on a new transit center in downtown Moses Lake.[3] The transit center opened on August 1, 2017, with an indoor waiting area, a customer service desk, and several bays.[4] The Grant Transit Authority debuted inter-county commuter services during the same month, connecting Moses Lake to Ellensburg and Wenatchee on weekdays.[4] [5] Several routes were consolidated in a major service change that took effect in April 2019.[6]
The Grant Transit Authority temporarily ceased collection of fares in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington. The policy was extended several times and made permanent on September 1, 2022, after the state government approved a statewide elimination of youth transit fares.[7] Prior to 2020, the adult and youth fare for all service had been $1, with a reduced fare of $0.50 for eligible seniors.[8]