Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • MEMBERSHIP
    • Membership Directory
    • Member Login
    • Join the Chamber
    • Membership Features
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Stakeholder, Leader, & Growth Level Members >
      • Stakeholder and Leader Profiles
  • EVENTS
    • Chamber Calendar
    • Annual Events >
      • Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon
      • Women in Business Conference >
        • Call for Speakers - Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference
        • ATHENA Awards
      • Washington Workplace Summit
      • State of the Cities
      • Elected Leaders Reception
      • Tri-Cities Day at the Capitol
      • Bridging Partnerships Small Business Symposium
    • Monthly Membership Luncheon
    • Business After Hours
    • Ribbon Cutting Request
  • PROGRAMS & SERVICES
    • Ambassador Club
    • Ask the Experts
    • Business Builders Resource Roundtable
    • Business Resource Navigator
    • LEARN Groups
    • Member Advertising Opportunities
    • myTRI 2030
    • Office Depot Savings Program
    • Washington APEX Accelerator >
      • Meet the Buyer
      • Yes, You Can! Contracts with the Government
    • Workforce & Education >
      • Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day
      • Washington Workforce Portal
      • Job Board
  • Advocacy
    • Legislative Action and Advocacy
    • Business Advocacy Letters
    • 2025 State Budget
    • Vote for Business
    • 2025 Scorecard
  • NEWS
    • Press Releases
    • In the News
    • Blog
    • Member News
    • Annual Report
    • Email Updates
    • Website Sponsors
  • ABOUT US
    • Contact
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Committees
    • Policies
    • Tri-Cities Strategic Alliance Partners >
      • Benton-Franklin Council of Governments
      • TRIDEC
      • Visit Tri-Cities
    • Tri-Cities Community Map
    • Built for Prosperity - Strategic Plan 2024-2026

MEMBER NEWS

Ben Franklin Transit Adjusts Services to Provide Additional Transportation Options to Local COVID-19 Vaccination Sites, Effective March 15

3/16/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) has adjusted some of its services to offer the community additional transportation options for increased connectivity to local COVID-19 vaccination sites. The changes, effective Monday, March 15, include:
  • Expanded access to reserved rides for seniors and those with mobility challenges regardless of ADA (Dial-A-Ride) eligibility, including round-trip scheduling to vaccine sites and shortened wait times for return trips.
  • Added connectivity options using BFT CONNECT.

“We’ve been working with the Benton-Franklin Health District and other amazing local partners to identify solutions to known transportation challenges associated with reaching COVID-19 vaccine sites,” said BFT General Manager Gloria Boyce. “BFT is committed to assisting our community in meaningful ways and we are pleased that we could adjust our services to help address some of these challenges.”

SERVICE OPTIONS TO REACH VACCINE SITES

Seniors and Mobility Challenged Individuals:
Seniors and mobility challenged individuals, regardless of ADA (Dial-A-Ride) eligibility, will be able to schedule trips to and from vaccine sites. These round trips will be scheduled at the time of initial request, with return trip pickup available as soon as 40 minutes after drop-off. These round-trip reservations to reach vaccine sites must be made at least one (1) day and up to seven (7) days in advance by calling 509-735-0160 (toll free 1-877-646-4287).

Reservation lines are open Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, reservation lines are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for scheduling Monday rides only.

BFT CONNECT:
BFT CONNECT, our on-demand service, will offer expanded destination options with front-door drop-off to local COVID-19 vaccination sites. Additionally, adjacent zone trips will be allowed using BFT CONNECT to expand access to vaccine sites outside the passenger’s service zone of origin. To request a ride:
  • Download and open the Via app on your smartphone and follow prompts, OR
  • Call 509-204-4189 to request a ride

Bus Service:
BFT has 18 bus routes serving Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Benton City, and Prosser. Customers throughout the Tri-Cities and Finley may use BFT CONNECT to reach the bus network. For the most up-to-date bus schedules we recommend that riders download and use the Transit app, or go to bft.org/BusRoutes.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICE OPTIONS AND VACCINE SITES

A list of eligible vaccine sites with BFT service options and additional information can be found at bft.org/VaccineTransportation. We will update this page as additional resources and information become available. At this time, the Fairgrounds mass vaccination site is not available for transit service due to being a drive-thru only site, however we will update our information page and service options if this changes. For complete COVID-19 vaccine information, including all available vaccine locations, please refer to the Benton-Franklin Health District’s website at bfhd.wa.gov.

BFT will notify customers via Facebook and Twitter, on its webpage at bft.org and by other means as appropriate of any further changes in service.

BFT Customer Service phone support is available Monday thru Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to assist passengers with questions or trip planning.

When using BFT services and at our facilities, we ask all riders to adhere to the following:
  • Wear a face covering (if needed, drivers can provide free face coverings while supplies last), in accordance with the federal order
  • Maintain a safe distance from others
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water (or use hand sanitizer)
  • Stay home and do not use public transit if sick or experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.

BFT services are currently fare-free until further notice. Our most current safety efforts are shared and updated as appropriate at bft.org/Safety and on our social media accounts.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Have News?

    Email your press release and a photo to Austin Regimbal, Vice President. Press releases are posted in their entirety. This is a free benefit for members of the Tri-City Regional Chamber at the Connect level and above.

    Archives

    July 2025
    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017

    RSS Feed

Copyright © Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.
7130 W Grandridge Blvd., Suite C, Kennewick, WA 99336 USA
Phone: (509) 736-0510
[email protected]
Hours
Monday - Thursday: 8 am - 5 pm
​(closed for lunch 12 - 1 pm)
​Friday: 8 am - 12 pm
​Closed Weekends

Picture
Picture
Photos from Bestpicko, The National Guard, Gamma Man, US Department of Education, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Tony Webster, jalexartis, Blue Mountains Library, denisbin, Baker County Tourism, amtec_photos, CartridgePeopleUK, Alan Light
  • MEMBERSHIP
    • Membership Directory
    • Member Login
    • Join the Chamber
    • Membership Features
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Stakeholder, Leader, & Growth Level Members >
      • Stakeholder and Leader Profiles
  • EVENTS
    • Chamber Calendar
    • Annual Events >
      • Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon
      • Women in Business Conference >
        • Call for Speakers - Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference
        • ATHENA Awards
      • Washington Workplace Summit
      • State of the Cities
      • Elected Leaders Reception
      • Tri-Cities Day at the Capitol
      • Bridging Partnerships Small Business Symposium
    • Monthly Membership Luncheon
    • Business After Hours
    • Ribbon Cutting Request
  • PROGRAMS & SERVICES
    • Ambassador Club
    • Ask the Experts
    • Business Builders Resource Roundtable
    • Business Resource Navigator
    • LEARN Groups
    • Member Advertising Opportunities
    • myTRI 2030
    • Office Depot Savings Program
    • Washington APEX Accelerator >
      • Meet the Buyer
      • Yes, You Can! Contracts with the Government
    • Workforce & Education >
      • Tri-Cities Regional Career Signing Day
      • Washington Workforce Portal
      • Job Board
  • Advocacy
    • Legislative Action and Advocacy
    • Business Advocacy Letters
    • 2025 State Budget
    • Vote for Business
    • 2025 Scorecard
  • NEWS
    • Press Releases
    • In the News
    • Blog
    • Member News
    • Annual Report
    • Email Updates
    • Website Sponsors
  • ABOUT US
    • Contact
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Committees
    • Policies
    • Tri-Cities Strategic Alliance Partners >
      • Benton-Franklin Council of Governments
      • TRIDEC
      • Visit Tri-Cities
    • Tri-Cities Community Map
    • Built for Prosperity - Strategic Plan 2024-2026