The Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) is a transit agency serving Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. RRTA is headquartered in downtown Lancaster. The South Central Transit Authority owns RRTA and the Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA). In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,375,500, or about 12,200 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
RRTA has routes both within the city of Lancaster, and between Lancaster and other areas of the county. RRTA coordinates a paratransit service, Red Rose Access, which is run by three private transportation providers. RRTA also operates a loop route in downtown Lancaster.
Outside Lancaster city, RRTA buses will stop for passengers who hail them. Inside the city limits, riders must wait at designated stops.
The RRTA was formed as an administrative agency by Lancaster city and Lancaster County under the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945. On April 1, 1976, the RRTA became an operating agency after it took over fixed-route service from two private companies. A new operations facility was built in 1979. In 1992, the RRTA consolidated with the Lancaster Integrated Specialized Transportation System, with the paratransit service renamed Red Rose Access.[3]
The name "Red Rose" is a specific reference to the Red Rose of the House of Lancaster, associated lastly with King Henry VII of England.[4]
The Queen Street Station transit center in downtown Lancaster was completed in 2005 on the former site of the Otto Paving and Construction Company building that was built in 1926. Construction on the second phase of the transit center began in September 2009, which added a parking garage, three bus bays, and access to Chestnut Street.[3]
Chestnut Street, New Holland Avenue, J. P. McCaskey High School, New Street, Lancaster General Hospital, Duke Street, Orange Street, Queen Street, Queen Street Station, Walnut Street, Buchanan Avenue, President Avenue, Harrisburg Pike, Park City Center
operates Monday-Sunday
3
Park City/8th Ward
West Chestnut Street and North Queen Street
Park City Center
Chestnut Street, Duke Street, Lancaster County Courthouse, Vine Street, Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Lancaster, Manor Street, King Street, Queen Street/Prince Street, Queen Street Station, Lancaster Station, Fruitville Pike, Shoppes at Belmont, Red Rose Commons, Manheim Pike
operates Monday-Sunday.
5
Grandview/Rossmere
Queen Street Station
Lancaster Shopping Center
Lime Street, Lancaster General Hospital, Liberty Street, Goodwill Industries, Lancaster County Social Services, Catholic High School, Pleasure Road, Calvary Fellowship Homes, Fordney Road, Golden Triangle Shopping Center, Lititz Pike
operates Monday-Friday
6
Downtown Lancaster Loop
Queen Street Station
Queen Street Station
Queen Street, Lancaster Station, McGovern Avenue, Prince Street, Clipper Magazine Stadium, Prince Street, King Street, Central Market, Penn Square, Lancaster County Convention Center, Queen Street
operates Monday-Friday, loop route, formerly the Historic Downtown Trolley until August 22, 2019 when trolleys were retired and replaced with buses[7]
Queen Street/Duke Street, Liberty Street/McGovern Avenue, Lancaster Station, Golden Triangle Shopping Center, Lancaster Shopping Center, Lititz Pike, Neffsville, Kissel Hill, Kissel Hill Plaza, Lititz
Queen Street/Duke Street, Liberty Street/McGovern Avenue, Lancaster Station, Lancaster Shopping Center, Oregon Pike, Pennsylvania Route 272, Dutch Lanes Bowling Center, Akron, State Street, Main Street, U.S. Route 322
Orange Street/Chestnut Street, King Street, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Conestoga View Nursing Home, Lincoln Highway, Walmart, East Towne Centre, Tanger Outlets, Dutch Wonderland, Quality Outlet Shopping Center
Queen Street/Prince Street, Lancaster Station, Red Rose Commons, Fruitville Pike, Hawthorne Plaza, Granite Run Industrial Park, Pennsylvania Route 72, East Petersburg, Manheim
operates Monday-Saturday
20
Greenfield
Queen Street Station
Greenfield Corporate Center
Orange Street/Chestnut Street, King Street, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Conestoga View Nursing Home, Harrisburg Area Community College
operates Monday-Friday
21
Gap
Queen Street Station
Gap Shopping Center
Orange Street/Chestnut Street, King Street, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Conestoga View Nursing Home, Lincoln Highway, Walmart, East Towne Centre, Tanger Outlets, Dutch Wonderland, Quality Outlet Shopping Center, Rockvale Square, U.S. Route 30, Paradise, Kinzers, Urban Outfitters Distribution Center, Gap
operates Monday-Saturday
MU X
MU Xpress
SMC at Millersville University
SMC at Millersville University
Millersville University
operates Monday-Friday when university is in session, loop route around campus
MU PCX
MU Park City Xpress
Millersville University
Park City Center
George Street, Manor Avenue, Millersville Road, Rohrerstown Road, Lancaster General Hospital Health Campus
operates Monday-Sunday when university is in session
Fares
RRTA bus fares are based on zones radiating out from Lancaster. The base cash fare is $1.70, while Zone 1 costs $1.85, Zone 2 costs $2.15, Zone 3 costs $2.50 and Zone 4 costs $2.90. Transfers to another bus route are available and cost $0.05 for the base zone, $0.20 for Zone 1, $0.50 for Zone 2, $0.85 for Zone 3, and $1.25 for Zone 4. Students in K-12 schools pay a reduced fare of $1.35 for the base zone, $1.50 for Zone 1, $1.80 for Zone 2, $2.15 for Zone 3, and $2.55 for Zone 4.[8]Millersville University students with their university ID can ride the Route 16, MU Xpress, and MU Park City Xpress for free when the university is in session.[9] Persons with disabilities pay half fare, which costs $0.85 for the base zone, $0.90 for Zone 1, $1.05 for Zone 2, $1.25 for Zone 3, and $1.45 for Zone 4. Senior citizens age 65 or older ride RRTA buses for free.[8]
RRTA offers various bus passes for riders. The All Day Pass, which allows for unlimited rides in a single day, can be bought onboard buses and at sales outlets and costs $3.40 for up to two zones and $5.25 for all zones. The 10 Ride Pass, which allows for 10 one-way rides, costs $12.00 for the base zone, $13.50 for Zone 1, $15.50 for Zone 2, $18.50 for Zone 3, and $21.50 for Zone 4. The 31 Day Pass, which allows for unlimited rides over a 31-day period, costs $35.00 for the base zone, $40.00 for Zone 1, $47.00 for Zone 2, $55.00 for Zone 3, and $64.00 for Zone 4. The Half Fare 10 Ride Pass, which allows for 10 one-way rides for persons with disabilities, costs $6.00 for the base zone, $6.75 for Zone 1, $7.75 for Zone 2, $9.25 for Zone 3, and $10.75 for Zone 4.[10]
Transit facilities
Queen Street Station
Queen Street Station in downtown Lancaster
The Queen Street Station transit center located in downtown Lancaster serves 11 of RRTA's bus routes. The transit center contains shelters and benches in a park-like setting for riders waiting for their buses. The RRTA Information Center is located at Queen Street Station and contains a waiting area, restrooms, sales outlet, bike racks, snack machines, ATM, and television.[11] A parking garage with 395 spaces is located adjacent to Queen Street Station.[12]
