Citibus this week is launching one new bus route and three updated routes as phase one of a five-year plan to expand transit to south Lubbock and help improve citywide access to stores like H-E-B and other points around the community.
The first phase, which began Sept. 28, introduces the new Route 205, or the Pink route, which will connect riders from North Indiana Avenue to Texas Tech University and Covenant to South Lubbock. Citibus will also redesign routes 025, 211, and 214, providing direct connections to areas such as the South Plains Mall, West End, and various neighborhoods around the city.
Citibus General Manager Chris Mandrell said the changes are intended to address the city’s growth and expand into areas that previously lacked service.
While Lubbock has continued to grow, Citibus routes have not experienced change in over 10 years.
“The problem we are trying to solve is the request and extension of services into parts of the city that had not previously been served by anything,” said Mandrell.
The redesigned routes were established based on community feedback and data collected from Citibus’ on-demand transport service, which helped identify where residents were traveling and where additional transportation options were needed.
Ahead of the changes, Citibus hosted a series of community outreach events throughout August and September.
The expansion into South Lubbock will provide access to areas such as H-E-B, Walmart, Academy, and many other businesses and restaurants. Along with greater access, the expansion will also provide Lubbock residents with greater employment opportunities.
Speaking with the Avalanche-Journal, Mandrell shared a story of an employee at the Whataburger near 114th Street and Quaker Avenue who had regularly walked to work from 82nd Street and Quaker Avenue because the previously existing bus routes could only go that far.
With the introduction of the new Pink route, the employee will now have public transportation directly to work.
This project has been in the works since 2019 but experienced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Mandrell. Citibus later received $300,000 in federal funding to revisit the project and evaluate the community’s needs.
The final redesign was completed and presented to City Council in November 2024 and was subsequently approved. Mandrell saif funding remains a challenge for Citibus, which led them to divide the plan into multiple phases.
Going forward, Citibus looks to continue improving upon existing routes and boosting ridership. Although adjusting to these changes may take time, Mandrell said the expansion marks an important step for the organization.
“We've heard for a long time; folks have been asking, can you guys expand to new areas and get us to those new areas? And so we're going to do it come Monday,” said Mandrell.
How to find a Citibus route in Lubbock
Updated route maps, schedules, and trip-planning resources will be available online through the Citibus website, through the GoPass app, and at Citibus facilities in conjunction with the launch.
For the latest information on new routes, community outreach events, and service updates, follow Citibus on social media. Because additional events may be scheduled and details are subject to change, social media will provide the most current event dates, times, and locations. Riders can also contact Citibus Customer Service at 806-775-3640 or download the GoPass app to receive rider alerts, service notifications, and trip-planning tools.
Hailey Stromberg is a reporting intern for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in Texas. Have a news tip for her? Email our newsroom at newmedia@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Citibus adds new route, changes to help Lubbock stay connected
