Trip Planning on the JCT Fixed Route System

Planning your trip with JCT

The following table shows the first and last run of each route as it leaves the Transit Center, Monday-Friday and on Saturday.

Please read through the following steps for tips on how to navigate the JCT System.

1. Where do I catch the bus?

You may board a bus at the Transit Center, located at 137 West Market Street in downtown Johnson City. You may also board a bus at designated bus stopsaround the city. Bus stops are identified with a JCT Bus Stop sign. Check the sign for which bus route(s) stops there by idenfying the color block(s). For your safety, buses stop only at designated JCT bus stops. Please see the Ride Guide section for more information on the list of stops on each route and the times they will arrive at each stop.

2. Which bus do I take?

Find your route in the Ride Guide section of the website to determine which bus will take you to your destination. You may need to transfer from one bus to another at the Transit Center to reach that destination. Click here to go to the Ride Guide. Identify your bus by looking for the bus "color" name in the sign above the windshield and the major destinations on that route. You will need to know if the bus route you need to take is the 15 Til bus or the 15 After bus. In the case of the Orange route, you will need to know if its the North or West bus you need to take. The Silver route stays the same each hour.

3. What time will my bus leave the Transit Center?

The Blue, Gold, Green, Purple and Red routes each have a bus that leaves the Transit Center at 137 West Market Street at 15 minutes after the hour (15 After) and 15 minutes until the hour (15 Til) for a 30 minute ride. The Silver route leaves the Transit Center at 15 minutes after the hour and is a 60 minute ride. The Orange route leaves the Transit Center every 45 minutes at varying times. Please see the Ride Guide section for more information on the list of stops on each route and the times they will arrive at each stop.

4. How should I get on/off the bus?

Please arrive at your stop a few minutes early so you can be in place to signal the bus. Signal the bus driver to stop by standing up at a bench or shelter when the bus approaches or signal the driver by raising your hand that you need to board the bus. Have your fare, pass or transfer ready when boarding. Please wait as other passengers may need to get off the bus before you board. When you approach the stop where you need to get off the bus, please press the "Stop" button or pull the cord to signal the bus driver that you need to get off at the next stop. Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, then quickly disembark.

5. How do I pay?

You can use cash or passes to pay the fare. Please see the Fares section for more information on the costs to ride the bus. There are many different fare categories. Cash must be the exact fare as bus drivers do not carry change. Please have your fare ready when boarding the bus and insert your fare into the fare box next to the driver. Dollar bills must be folded lengthwise to insert in the fare box. If you have a pass, please show it to the driver. If you have a Half-Fare ID card, please show this to the driver when boarding. Half-Fare ID cards (for elderly and handicapped patrons only) and passes can be requested at the ticket window in the Transit Center. If you need to make change, you may use the coin machine located in the Transit Center lobby.

6. What is a transfer?

A transfer allows you to finish your trip by boarding a second bus for a different destination than the original pick-up point. Transfers are free - you do not need to pay a second fare. Transfers are valid for 30 minutes after they are issued. Please inform the bus driver that you will need a transfer and they will give you a punched transfer ticket. Please present the transfer ticket to the bus driver when boarding the second bus to reach your destination.

7. Where do I sit?

After paying your fare, please move quickly to a vacant seat. Seats directly behind the driver are priority seating for individuals with disabilities. If every seat is taken, please stand holding on to the handrails until a seat becomes available.

8. How do I plan my trip?

The following are examples of choosing routes to arrive at your destination.

For more examples of trip planning with ETSU as a starting point, please see the BUCSHOT section of the website.

Please remember that in order to catch one of the last buses to leave the Transit Center, you must be back to the Transit Center by 5:15 p.m. to catch a 15 After bus route or by 5:45 p.m. to catch a 15 Til bus route Monday through Friday. You must be back by 4:15 p.m. to catch a 15 After bus route or 4:45 p.m. to catch a 15 Til bus route on Saturday.

For example, if you are at the Walmart on Browns Mill Rd and you need to catch the Blue 15 After bus at 5:15 p.m. to go home, you must get on the Silver Route bus at 4:40 p.m. in order to make it back to the Transit Center by 5:15 p.m.