380 Express

{{Short description|Provider of mass transportation in Linn and Johnson Counties, Iowa}}

{{Infobox Bus transit

| name = 380 Express

| logo =

| logo_size =

| image = 380_Express.jpg

| image_caption = A 380 Express bus in Iowa City

| company_slogan =

| parent =

| founded =

| headquarters =

| locale = Cedar Rapids, Coralville and Iowa City, Iowa, US

| service_area = Johnson and Linn counties

| service_type = Commuter bus service

| alliance =

| routes = 1

| destinations =

| stops = 6

| hubs =

| stations =

| lounge =

| fleet = 5 (2024)

| annual ridership= 44,072 (2021)

| website = [https://380express.com/index.php 380 Express]

}}

The 380 Express is a commuter bus service between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. As of 2021, the system provided 44,072 rides over 11,264 annual vehicle revenue hours with 4 buses.{{cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2021/70138.pdf|title= ECICOG Transit Agency Profile|access-date=July 10, 2023}} The service is operated by Windstar Lines, which is contracted by the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG).

History

The 380 Express was begun on October 1, 2018, as a way to reduce congestion during a major roadway construction project around Iowa City.{{cite news|url=https://www.kwwl.com/news/cedar-rapids/380-express-bus-service-between-cedar-rapids-and-iowa-city-takes-off/article_96f90e2f-92c7-519d-a805-5a161c12fe09.html|title=380 Express bus service between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City takes off|author=Ashley Neighbor|date=October 1, 2018|newspaper=News 7 KWWL|access-date=July 10, 2023}} Service was only intended to continue for the duration of construction until 2025. Service began with weekday service, and from September to December 2019, Saturday service was added to the schedule.{{cite news|url=https://medcom.uiowa.edu/theloop/announcements/380-express-bus-announces-weekday-schedule-changes-and-weekend-service|title=380 Express bus announces weekday schedule changes and weekend service|newspaper=The loop|date=September 20, 2019|access-date=July 10, 2023}} As of 2023, there is no long term funding source in place, leaving the future of the service in doubt, despite increasing ridership in 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.com/staff-editorials/380-express-should-continue/|title=380 Express should continue|newspaper=The Gazette|date=March 16, 2023|access-date=July 10, 2023}}

Service

The 380 Express operates 22 roundtrips per day between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City along Interstate 380. In Cedar Rapids, the service connects with Cedar Rapids Transit at the downtown Ground Transportation Center, as well as at Kirkwood Community College. The service also connects with Coralville Transit at the Coralville Intermodal Center, and with Iowa City Transit, Cambus, and Burlington Trailways in downtown Iowa City.

Hours of operation for the system are Monday through Friday from 4:52 A.M. to 9:02 P.M. There is no service on Saturdays and Sundays.{{cite web|url=https://380express.com/schedule.php|title=Schedule|access-date=July 10, 2023}} Regular fares are $3.50, with discounts for children, seniors and those with disabilities.{{cite web|url=https://380express.com/faresandpasses.php|title=Fares and Passes|access-date=July 10, 2023}}

Fleet

The 380 Express fleet consists of exclusively Windstar Lines-owned Van Hool coach buses. All coaches are equipped with free Wi-Fi, 110V power outlets and USB ports, lavatory, and reclining seats with 3-point seat belts. The coaches are also equipped with a wheelchair lift with two wheelchair securement areas on each coach.https://www.380express.com/schedule/

class="wikitable"

! Fleet Numbers

! Photo

! Year

! Make

! Model

! Notes

align="center"

|194

|frameless

|2018

|Van Hool

|CX45

align="center"

|280

|frameless

|Van Hool

|CX35

align="center"

|323-325

|frameless

|2024

|Van Hool

|CX45

Began revenue service in late 2024.

Ridership

The ridership statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response services provided by the ECICOG.{{cite web | title=The National Transit Database (NTD) | url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/transit-agency-profiles/east-central-iowa-council-governments | access-date=July 8, 2023}}

{{#invoke:Chart | bar chart

| group 1 = 34843:59390:44072

| units suffix =

| group names = Annual ridership

| x legends = 2019:2020:2021

| colors = #{{rcr|Metra|BNSF}}

}}