Intercity Transit
Intercity Transit is a Public Transportation Benefit Area authority providing zero-fare fixed-route bus, paratransit, vanpool, and community transportation services across Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Yelm in Washington State's Thurston County, funded by voter-approved sales taxes and federal/state grants.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersOlympia, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Intercity Transit does
Intercity Transit is a Public Transportation Benefit Area authority operating under the legal name Intercity Transit Authority. The agency delivers multimodal public transportation across Thurston County, Washington, serving the cities of Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, and surrounding urban growth areas. Following the October 2023 designation as a large urban transit agency (triggered by the Olympia-Lacey urbanized area surpassing 200,000 residents), the agency operates a fleet of more than 400 vehicles including hybrid biodiesel-electric buses, propane-fueled Dial-A-Lift vans, and other support vehicles.
The service portfolio spans core fixed-route bus operations (offered under a Zero Fare model for local routes), ADA-compliant Dial-A-Lift paratransit, employer and commuter vanpool programs, the Village Vans program (employment-related transportation for welfare participants and low-income individuals), Walk N Roll youth and active transportation programs, and Community Vans for non-profits. Infrastructure investments include the Pattison Base expansion (originally built to service 80 vehicles in 1985, scaled to 400+ vehicles), 147 bus stops being enhanced across the service area, the East Martin Way Gateway Station Roundabout, and a Smart Sensor Safety Demonstration Project using AI-enabled cameras at 10 intersections in partnership with City of Lacey and WSDOT.
The revenue model is fundamentally tax- and grant-funded rather than fare-driven. Intercity Transit collects a voter-approved local sales tax under 2018's Proposition 1 and receives funding through the Washington State Bus and Bus Facilities Program, the Federal Transit Administration Surface Transportation Program, and the Climate Commitment Act. Customer access spans transit centers, Park & Ride lots, ride-matching apps (Google Maps, Transit App, myStop, OneBusAway), a Trip Planner tool, and the Greyhound partnership at Olympia Transit Center. The agency is governed by the Intercity Transit Authority Board, with Emily Bergkamp serving as General Manager since November 2023.
Intercity Transit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Intercity Transit
- Legal name
- Intercity Transit Authority
- Website
- https://intercitytransit.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Intercity Transit is a Public Transportation Benefit Area authority providing zero-fare fixed-route bus, paratransit, vanpool, and community transportation services across Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Yelm in Washington State's Thurston County, funded by voter-approved sales taxes and federal/state grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Intercity Transit industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Transit Services
- NAICS
- Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991), Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (48521)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Intercity Commuter Bus Operators (TLAFAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community & Senior Transportation Shuttles (Dial-a-Ride, Non-ADA) (TLAFAJAI), Regional Intercity Bus Operators (Scheduled) (THAIADAB)
Keywords
Where Intercity Transit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Olympia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Intercity Transit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Public Transportation Fares: Revenue from bus fares, vanpool fares, and Dial-A-Lift services. Agency also offers zero-fare service on local routes.
- Federal and State Grants: Funding from Washington State's Bus and Bus Facilities Program, Federal Transit Administration Surface Transportation Program, and Climate Commitment Act.
- Voter-Approved Proposition 1: Local sales tax revenue approved by voters in November 2018 for expanded transit services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Zero Fare - Free local bus service |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Vanpool Flat Rate Fare |
| Subscription | Monthly | Regional Reduced Fare Permit |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Intercity Transit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Intercity Transit is a municipal public transit agency providing fixed-route local and commuter bus service (offered Zero Fare on local routes), ADA-compliant Dial-A-Lift paratransit for riders with disabilities, a vanpool commuter rideshare program, the Village Vans transportation program for low-income and welfare participants, and the Walk N Roll youth education and bicycle program. Services are delivered through 400+ vehicles, transit centers, park-and-ride lots, and bus stops across Thurston County.
Product overview
Intercity Transit is a public transit agency providing multimodal transportation services across the Thurston County region (Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm). The organization operates a platform of integrated transportation services including fixed-route bus service (Zero Fare), ADA-compliant Dial-A-Lift paratransit, vanpool programs, and community-based services like Village Vans and Walk N Roll. The portfolio includes traditional transit operations plus technology initiatives such as the Smart Sensor Safety Demonstration Project. Services are coordinated through transit centers, Park & Ride facilities, and supported by construction projects including bus stop enhancements and facility renovations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Walk N Roll: Youth education program promoting bicycling and walking, including bike education, repair services, and community challenges
- Dial-A-Lift
- Village Vans
- Community Vans
Products and services
- Fixed-Route Bus Service Traditional public bus service operating on fixed routes and published schedules throughout the Public Transportation Benefit Area, covering Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Yelm. Operated as Zero Fare on local routes.
- Dial-A-Lift Paratransit ADA-compliant door-to-door specialized transportation service for people with disabilities that prevent them from using regular fixed-route bus service; advance reservation required.
- Vanpool Program Commuter rideshare service where groups share rides in agency-provided vans with volunteer drivers; includes statewide ride matching, commuter tax benefits, and employer tools for participating organizations.
- Village Vans Free transportation program for welfare participants and low-income individuals providing employment-related rides with built-in job training and work experience opportunities for eligible participants.
- Walk N Roll Youth education and encouragement program promoting bicycling and walking through bike education classes, repair events, the Bicycle Community Challenge, the Pedal It Forward bike rescue project, and a youth bike shop.
- Community Vans for Non-profits Program granting retired vanpool vans to qualifying non-profit organizations and agencies serving the Public Transportation Benefit Area.
Quantifiable outcome
- 33% of fleet is hybrid biodiesel-electric
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Intercity Transit
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Intercity Transit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Intercity Transit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC)corePartnership on Ride the Rainbow sweepstakes for Ride Transit Month and regional transportation planning coordination.
- City of LaceycoreSmart Sensor Safety Demonstration Project - AI-enabled smart sensors installed at 10 intersections near Lacey Transit Center and Martin Way to improve roadway operations and safety.
- Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)corePartner in Smart Sensor Demonstration Project with access to safety data. Also provides grant funding through Bus and Bus Facilities Program.
- SCJ AllianceminorEngineering and design firm contracted for preliminary engineering, design, environmental and right-of-way planning for East Martin Way Gateway Station Roundabout project.
- GreyhoundcorePartnership bringing Greyhound regional and national bus service to Olympia Transit Center. Passengers can purchase tickets at Customer Service counter and ship/receive packages via Greyhound.
- Pierce TransitminorTransit connection at SR 512 Park & Ride for Route 620 service to JBLM Airshow and regional transit connections.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Intercity Transit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pierce Transit: Public transit agency serving Pierce County, WA, including Tacoma. Operates fixed-route bus, paratransit (SHUTTLE), and vanpool with comparable mid-size urban scope and Washington State governance structure.
- Community Transit: Snohomish County, WA public transit agency providing fixed-route bus, paratransit (DART), and vanpool. Comparable service portfolio and Pacific Northwest regional peer.
- Ben Franklin Transit: Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority serving the Tri-Cities region of Washington State. Direct peer in governance model (PTBA) and service mix including fixed-route, paratransit, and vanpool.
- Spokane Transit Authority: Washington State public transit authority providing fixed-route bus, paratransit, and vanpool in Spokane region. Similar mid-size urban agency and state-level policy environment.
- Salem Area Mass Transit District (Cherriots): Oregon mid-size public transit district providing fixed-route bus, paratransit (Cherriots LIFT), and regional service. Comparable mid-size urban transit operator in the Pacific Northwest.
- Lane Transit District: Eugene-Springfield, OR public transit district with fixed-route bus, paratransit (RideSource), and Emerald Express (EmX) BRT. Comparable mid-size urban transit scale.
- Whatcom Transportation Authority: Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority serving Bellingham and Whatcom County, WA. Operates fixed-route bus, paratransit (WTA Paratransit), and vanpool under identical WA PTBA governance model.
Broad incumbents
- TriMet: Portland, OR metropolitan area transit agency (bus, light rail, paratransit). Larger regional peer offering overlapping service categories and sustainability programs.
- King County Metro: Seattle-region public transit agency operating bus, paratransit (Access), and vanpool. Larger incumbent in same state with overlapping service model and zero-fare programs for select routes.
- Sound Transit: Central Puget Sound regional transit authority (bus, light rail, commuter rail, paratransit). Larger regional peer with overlapping funding sources and rider base near Intercity Transit's service area.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Intercity Transit social profiles
Digital presenceIntercity Transit compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Intercity Transit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Intercity Transit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Intercity Transit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Intercity Transit M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Intercity Transit
What does Intercity Transit do?
Intercity Transit is a municipal public transit agency providing fixed-route local and commuter bus service (offered Zero Fare on local routes), ADA-compliant Dial-A-Lift paratransit for riders with disabilities, a vanpool commuter rideshare program, the Village Vans transportation program for low-income and welfare participants, and the Walk N Roll youth education and bicycle program. Services are delivered through 400+ vehicles, transit centers, park-and-ride lots, and bus stops across Thurston County.
Is Intercity Transit a public or private company?
Intercity Transit is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Intercity Transit founded?
Intercity Transit was founded in 1985. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Intercity Transit based?
Intercity Transit is headquartered in Olympia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Intercity Transit make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Public Transportation Fares are the primary driver. The others are federal and State Grants and voter-Approved Proposition 1.
Who are Intercity Transit's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pierce Transit, Community Transit, Ben Franklin Transit, Spokane Transit Authority, Salem Area Mass Transit District (Cherriots), Lane Transit District and Whatcom Transportation Authority. Broad incumbents are TriMet, King County Metro and Sound Transit.
Does Intercity Transit have an API?
No public API is recorded for Intercity Transit.
What industry is Intercity Transit in?
Intercity Transit's product category is Public Transit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFAFAG, Intercity Commuter Bus Operators, with a secondary code of TLAFAJAI, Community & Senior Transportation Shuttles (Dial-a-Ride, Non-ADA). Its NAICS code is 485113 and its SIC code is 4100.