VRT bus system changes start Thursday, with services removed in Nampa, addition of Lyft to VRT On-Demand

VRT will implement several service adjustments beginning Thursday, October 1, 2026, including the reduction of services in Nampa as a result of the city council decision to reduce funding, the suspension of Route 30 in Meridian, a revised Route 40, and an enhancement to VRT On-Demand.

The changes occurring Thursday reflect local funding decisions — particularly in Nampa — as well as rider feedback, city input, and system performance. VRT has several Change Days each year, each designed to fine-tune routes to help the transit network stay connected and responsive across the region.

Service Changes and Impacts

• Route 40 Caldwell/Boise Express: Currently connecting the Nampa/Caldwell Boulevard to Boise State and serving various Park & Ride locations, Route 40 will be modified to no longer serve Nampa as a result of Nampa City Council’s decision to reducing funding for VRT services. Route 40 provides approximately 3,250 annual boardings in Nampa.
• VRT On-Demand: This service allows riders to schedule trips to be picked up near their location and dropped off near their destination. VRT On-Demand will no longer be available within the City of Nampa as a result of Nampa City Council’s decision to reducing funding for VRT services, except for select locations at the College of Western Idaho (CWI), St. Luke’s, and Saint Alphonsus. VRT On-Demand provides approximately 18,000 annual trips to, from, and within Nampa.
• Route 30 Pine: Currently connecting Ten Mile Crossing to the Village, Route 30 will be discontinued. VRT worked with the City of Meridian to identify optimal travel options and determined to focus investment in Route 45, which connects CWI to Boise State and serves the same bus stops as Route 30 except for one, which has a nearby alternative.
• VRT Access: A qualification-based paratransit service, VRT Access reflects the service area of bus routes. With the discontinuation of Route 30, VRT Access service tied to that route in Meridian will also be discontinued. VRT’s Beyond Access and Rides2Wellness services will continue serving eligible riders across the region, maintaining critical medical and paratransit access.

VRT On-Demand Enhancements

VRT On-Demand is a shared ride service that uses a booking system to identify similar trips and group them together. VRT will be updating VRT On-Demand to include a Lyft option to make trips more efficient, allowing the use of a combination of smaller microtransit vehicles and Lyft to provide a more comprehensive service.

Whether a VRT On-Demand trip uses microtransit or Lyft will be determined during the booking process. Riders taking trips that don’t fit into a shared ride may be offered a Lyft trip for a small surcharge, costing $2 instead of the standard $1.50 fare. Accepting the Lyft option will not be required.

Caldwell riders will be able to ride VRT On-Demand in Caldwell and to access VRT partner destinations in Nampa such as St. Luke’s, Saint Alphonsus, and CWI campuses, including the Main Campus Park & Ride to connect with Route 42 Happy Day – Towne Square Mall.

Community Impact

VRT’s ability to provide service is directly impacted by local funding decisions. Lacking dedicated funding, VRT relies on contributions from local partners – including cities, counties, universities – to support services. Each year, staff works with these partners to identify services within the available budget.

Changes in Nampa are the result of budgeting discussions held throughout the summer:

• In May, VRT presented a service option to the Nampa City Council that would have grown ridership and expanded availability at a cost of approximately $860,000, which was less than the previous year. This proposal was rejected, and VRT was asked to explore ways to reduce the funding request to less than $500,000 while maintaining ridership.
• In July, VRT presented an updated service option that would have maintained ridership at a cost of $498,522, aligning with the council’s request. At the July 15 budget workshop, the Nampa City Council rejected this proposal and voted to cut VRT funding completely, which would have removed all public transit access in the city.
• At their August 17 budget public hearing, the Nampa City Council voted to maintain partial funding for VRT, retaining Route 42 and VRT Access and cutting Route 40 and VRT On-Demand.

Rider Support

VRT is committed to helping riders navigate these changes. Staff have been connecting with riders and community partners on buses, at popular boarding locations, and at community hubs and sharing information online, in print materials, on displays in buses and at transit centers, via social media, and more.

More information and updated bus schedules can be found at ridevrt.org/changes. Riders can also contact VRT Customer Service with questions.