Service Changes

Based on low ridership and ready alternatives, VRT proposed to the City of Meridian to suspend Route 30 Pine.

Anticipated impacts

minor

Ridership impacts of this change are expected to be minimal. Route 30 has approximately 30 weekday boardings, and riders can reasonably move to Route 45 to complete their trips.

Service proposal

Though Route 30 will be discontinued, current riders will be able to continue using Route 45, which serves Route 30 stops except AM013 N Hickory Ave & E Pine Ave. There is an alternative stop – AM052 E Pine Ave & N Rosario St – approximately 500 feet away.

Learn more about Route 30

Route 40 – which currently connects the Nampa/Caldwell Boulevard to Boise State and serves Park & Ride lots, the College of Idaho, CWI, the Ten Mile Park & Ride, Wahooz & Roaring Springs, Boise City Hall, and more – will be eliminated from Nampa as a result of Nampa City Council’s decision to reducing funding for VRT services.

Anticipated impacts

significant

With approximately 3,250 annual boardings in Nampa, it is likely that existing riders will not continue to use transit without other reasonable options and given the distance to the Park & Ride locations at Happy Day Transit Center and Ten Mile.

Service proposal

Route 40 will start at VRT’s Happy Day Transit Center and travel to downtown Caldwell rather than stopping in Nampa. It will then use the Franklin Road on-ramp to access I-84 until the Ten Mile exit in Meridian, where it will serve the Ten Mile Park & Ride before getting on the interstate once again to head to the Boise State campus.

The closest Park & Ride locations for Nampa residents on Route 40 will be at Happy Day Transit Center and Ten Mile & Overland.

Drag the image below to see Route 40 before and after the change

Current Route 40

Changed Route 40 (effective October 1)

View map of the current Route 40 (PNG) View map of the changed Route 40, effective October 1, 2026 (PNG) Learn more about Route 40

Updated Route 40 route brochure (effective Thursday October 1, 2026)

VRT On-Demand – which currently allows riders to schedule on-demand trips to be picked up near their location and dropped off near their destination within the Nampa and Caldwell service area – 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.

Anticipated impacts

significant

The majority of the 18,000 annual trips to, from, and within Nampa would be lost, reducing ridership on VRT On-Demand by more than half.

Service proposal

VRT is proposing a new VRT On-Demand model to make the system more efficient. The new VRT On-Demand would use a combination of microtransit (smaller vehicles) and Lyft in Caldwell only, with select destinations available in Nampa.

• Microtransit: Under the proposed changes, VRT On-Demand would use smaller vans and new operating staff, which is expected to reduce operating costs by more than 40%. Bus fares would remain the same as they are today, and there may be an opportunity to pay for fares within the VRT Booking app in addition to the farebox. Trip requests that wouldn’t be able to be shared with other riders would be shifted to a ride hail provider.
• Lyft: For trips that are harder to share (usually longer trips or trips under one mile), a Lyft trip may be offered instead for a $0.50 upcharge from regular fare.

Whether a VRT On-Demand trip uses microtransit or Lyft will be determined during the booking process and based on which is most efficient for that trip

Learn more about the proposed update to VRT On-Demand (PDF)

Caldwell riders will be able to ride VRT On-Demand in Caldwell and to VRT partner destinations in Nampa, such as St. Luke’s, Saint Alphonsus, and College of Western Idaho (CWI) campuses – including the Main Campus Park & Ride to connect with Route 42.

Drag the image below to see VRT On-Demand before and after the change

Current VRT On-Demand

Changed VRT On-Demand (effective October 1)

View map of the current VRT On-Demand (PNG) View map of the changed VRT On-Demand service area, effective October 1, 2026 (PNG) Learn more about VRT On-Demand

Updated VRT On-Demand brochure (effective Thursday October 1, 2026)

VRT Access is a qualification-based paratransit service that complements the fixed-route bus system and provides guaranteed service for people who are unable to use VRT’s fixed-route services. The VRT Access service boundary reflects a 3/4-mile buffer around fixed bus routes and is established by federal mandate. 

With the discontinuation of Route 30 Pine in Meridian, the VRT Access service tied to that route will also be discontinued. VRT’s other paratransit and medical-based service – Beyond Access and Rides2Wellness – will continue to be available.

Drag the image below to see VRT Access before and after the change

Current VRT Access

Changed VRT Access (effective October 1)

View current VRT Access brochure and map (PDF) View map of the changed VRT Access service area, effective October 1, 2026 (PNG) Learn more about VRT Access

VRT Late Night offers transportation assistance for low-income job access. In partnership with Lyft, Valley Regional Transit offers $3 Lyft rides to and from work for qualified riders.

VRT Late Night will be reduced in Nampa as a result of Nampa City Council’s decision to reducing funding for VRT services.

Drag the image below to see VRT Late Night before and after the change

Current VRT Late Night

Changed VRT Late Night (effective October 1)

View map of the changed VRT Access service area, effective October 1, 2026 (PNG) Learn more about VRT Late Night

Jason Rose, Public Information Officer
jrose@ridevrt.org
(208) 803‑5183

For media resources, logos, and photos, please visit ridevrt.org/press.

If you are looking for information on a previous service change, you find that information on our Service Change Archives page.