The County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) is the operator of public transport for the city of Scranton urban area and its surrounding area of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It began operations in 1972, largely using routes established by predecessor Scranton Transit. In , the system had a ridership of , or about per weekday as of .
Routes The COLTS system operates 36 distinct routes. Each route may operate at different times, other than weekdays. Most routes depart from the Lackawanna Transit Center on Lackawanna Avenue, near the Mall at Steamtown, in Downtown Scranton. 12 Jessup 13 Drinker/Marywood (Saturdays) 14 Drinker 18 Petersburg 21 East Mountain 25 Valley View 26 Hilltop 28 Pittston 29 Stauffer Industrial Park via South Main 31 Old Forge 34 Keyser Valley (Saturday) 35 Keyser Valley (Weekday) 36 Lafayette (Weekday) 37 Lafayette/Oram (Saturday) 38 Oram (Weekday) 41 High Works 43 Viewmont/Bangor 45 Viewmont Mall Express 46 Mall Circulator 48 Dalton/Waverly/Clarks Summit (Weekday) 49 Dalton/Waverly/Clarks Summit (Saturday) 50 Shoppers Special 52 Carbondale 53 Marywood/University of Scranton 54 Greenridge/Dickson City 71 Evening City Circle North 72 Evening City Circle South 73 Saturday Night Special (seasonal) 82 Simpson/Carbondale/Route 6 83 Newton/Ransom 84 Chinchilla/Clarks Green/Justus 96 First Friday Circulator 101 The Bergamino Express
Fleet COLTS operates a mix of Gillig branded buses in the Phantom, Advantage and BRT models, in 30 and 35 foot lengths. In addition, some smaller, cutaway style vans perform service on lower patronized routes. COLTS operates a fleet of 35 buses.
Current fleet 2011: 9 35 ft. Gillig BRT hybrid electric buses powered by Cummins ISL9 (309-317) 2015: 5 35 ft. Gillig BRTs powered by Cummins ISL9 (318-322) 2018: 10 35 ft. Gillig BRT CNG buses powered by Cummins Westport L9N (323-332) 2019: 3 35 ft. Gillig BRT CNG buses powered by Cummins Westport L9N (333-335) 2023: 4 35 ft. Gillig Low Floor CNG buses powered by Cummins Westport L9N (336-339) 2024: 4 35 ft. Gillig Low Floor CNG buses powered by Cummins Westport L9N (340-343)
Connections to other agencies
COLTS bus service connects to conventional Luzerne County Transportation Authority (LCTA) bus service at West Pittston, Old Forge, and Mohegan Sun Casino. In addition, less frequent with LCTA meet up with COLTS buses at the Wyoming Street transfer center near the Mall at Steamtown weekdays and Saturdays.
On Lackawanna Avenue, at the Lackawanna Transit Center, COLTS service connects with Greyhound Lines, Martz Trailways, New York Trailways, and Fullington Trailways.
Criticism
Ban on religious-based content
In 2013, after NEPA Freethought Society spent 18 months attempting to advertise their group, which used the word "Atheists", COLTS denied his request, calling it, "Too controversial". After trying again with a similar advertisement, COLTS responded by revising their advertising policy to reject all forms of religion-based advertisements. As COLTS had previously allowed several churches, a political candidate, and a blog that focused on anti-Semitism, holocaust denial, and white supremacy to all run advertisements in the past, COLTS was subsequently sued, in order to remove the ban.
See also Luzerne County Transportation Authority
References
External links County of Lackawanna Transit System Home