Travel Washington Intercity Bus
This intercity bus service connects rural communities to major transportation hubs and urban centers; fills gaps in the public transportation network; and makes travel more accessible, reliable and convenient.
In operation since 2007, Travel Washington provides more than 30,000 trips per year, serving some of the most rural parts of the state. Four Travel Washington bus routes currently contribute to the statewide intercity bus network (PDF 1MB). A fifth route called the Wheat Line will launch in the second quarter of 2026. It will run between Spokane, Moses Lake, and Pasco.
Intercity bus lines
- Apple Line
The Apple Line runs along a 160-mile route through Omak, Ellensburg and Wenatchee with connections to Amtrak, Northwestern Trailways, and Greyhound - Dungeness Line
The Dungeness Line connects people in Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Seattle, and Sea-Tac International Airport, with links to Greyhound, Amtrak, and Washington state ferries to Seattle and Victoria, B.C. - Gold Line
The Gold Line runs twice daily along US 395 to Spokane and key transit hubs, including Spokane International Airport. - Grape Line
The Grape Line runs between Walla Walla and Pasco, with connections to Greyhound, Amtrak, Ben Franklin Transit and Valley Transit. - Wheat Line
The Wheat Line will run twice daily service between Spokane, Moses Lake, and Pasco, with connections to local transit providers and long-distance transportation from Amtrak, Northwestern Stage Lines, and FlixBus.
We contract with private bus operators to provide intercity bus service across Washington state. The Federal Transit Administration provides funding for the program under the Formula Grants for Rural Areas (Section 5311) program. Through a public-private partnership, participating private operators provide in-kind match by applying the value of unsubsidized connecting intercity bus service. As additional funding becomes available, the Travel Washington intercity bus network aims to expand to meet growing statewide mobility needs.
Travel Washington Intercity Bus Program Study
The Travel Washington Intercity Bus 2024 Study Update (PDF 14.1MB) looked at existing intercity bus service and did a feasibility study to see where service expansion or new bus routes would be most cost-effective. The study also addressed linking rural areas and restoring meaningful connections within the existing intercity network. For a quick overview of the findings, see the Travel Washington Intercity Bus 2024 Study Update Executive Summary (PDF 5MB).
Travel Washington Intercity Bus Contracts
| Line | Route | Service Provider | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | Omak, Wenatchee, Ellensburg | Northwest Trailways | $4,631,008 (2024-2028) |
| Dungeness | Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Seattle, SeaTac International Airport | MTR WESTERN | $5,793,480 (2025-2029) |
| Gold | Kettle Falls, Deer Park, Spokane | Belair Charters via Central Washington Airporter | $4,877,200 (2023-2027) |
| Grape | Walla Walla, Touchet, Pasco | Belair Charters via Central Washington Airporter | $4,616,640 (2023-2027) |
| Wheat | Spokane, Moses Lake, Pasco | Belair Charters via Central Washington Airporter | $TBD (2026-2030) |
Awards
This table shows an update on the intercity bus service expansion for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
| Expansion | World Cup public transportation funding |
|---|---|
| New service: Implementing Wheat Line, connecting Spokane with base camp and fan zone to Tri-Cities with fan zone; both with Amtrak and airport service. | $1,800,000 |
Pilot projects and additional frequency:
| $1,850,000 |
| World cup eligible activities: Implementing traveler support services, marketing, fare, language translation, wayfinding, and other services to encourage intercity bus use. | $500,000 |
| Implementing Express Dungeness Line between Port Angeles and Seattle connecting Washington communities to game site. | (Funded with federal 5311(f); no state World Cup funding used). |
| Adding second daily Apple Line trip, connecting local communities to fan zone and base camp in Spokane. | (Funded with federal 5311(f); no state World Cup funding used). |
This table shows four 2023-2025 Travel Washington Intercity Bus projects that were awarded $7.5 million in federal stimulus funds to rebuild services reduced during the pandemic.
| Organization | County/counties | Project title | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| CWA, Inc. | Franklin, King, Yakima | Restoring Intercity Bus service along I-82 in Eastern Washington | $560,000 |
| Greyhound Lines, Inc. | Clallam, Jefferson, King | Maintaining current service and rebuilding the network | $4,777,679 |
| Northwestern Stage Lines, Inc. | King, Pierce, Spokane | Add a night run on the Spokane/Seattle/Tacoma route | $1,388,160 |
| NWSBW, LLC | King, Kittitas, Okanogan, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane | Intercity bus service between Omak and Ellensburg, Seattle and Spokane/Everett/Tacoma with connections to Boise, ID | $777,762 |
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