The Lancaster Loop

The Lancaster Loop will run on a limited schedule over Thanksgiving 2023. The Loop picks up on College Ave in front of Steinman at the table top crossing. The loop provides transportation to area stores and grocery stores including: Wegman's, Target, Walmart, Aldi's, Asian Center Supermarket and Park City Mall. 

Thanksgiving Loop Schedule:

• Friday, 11/24: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

• Saturday, 11/25: 10:00am - 2:00pm

Bus System-Red Rose Transit

You may have noticed that Lancaster has a bus system and a few routes have stops on campus. Both the #1 and #2 buses run to the Park City mall, and the #2 bus also goes to Lancaster General Hospital and Wegmans (a grocery store). A nearby bus, the #3, goes to the shopping center with Target. Lancaster has a system of 17 routes, running not just through Lancaster itself but also connecting the city to other towns and locations in the surrounding county. 

The bus system in Lancaster is really very easy to use and can be a reliable means of transportation over break periods and throughout the year. There is a smartphone application, RRTA GoMobile, which lets you buy tickets using your phone. It will also detect your location, show which routes pass nearby, and show the arrival time for the next bus. 

The RRTA app is the easiest way to pay for the bus, but you can also order a refillable smartcard online, which will be mailed to you, or buy one in person at the downtown RRTA Information Center (225 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603). 

The bus is quite inexpensive. A single ride costs $1.80, but you can buy a 10-ride pass (which does not expire) for $13.50 ($1.35 a ride) or a one-day pass for $3.70. 

You can find basic maps of all the locations the RRTA buses run to on the Red Rose Transit Authority website. For detailed maps that show all of the stops, you can use the Busfinder program on your computer, use the RRTA GoMobile app, or an application called "MyStop."

The buses run regularly and are consistently on time. It can be a bit tricky to figure out where some of the stops are at first--look for signposts that say "Bus stop" and have the route number. Make sure you wait by the sign, and wave to approaching bus drivers so they know that you are waiting to board.

Amtrak

The Lancaster Amtrak station is a 3 minute drive or a 15 minute walk from F&M's campus. Lancaster is a major stop on the Amtrak Keystone Service between Philadelphia and points west. To travel to or from Boston, New York or Washington, D.C., change at 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, to the commuter service to Lancaster. For more information on train times, costs, and stops visit the Amtrak website: https://www.amtrak.com/tickets/schedule-results.html. 

Uber/ Lyft Car Services

The Uber and Lyft apps can be easily used to request car service or to schedule a ride for a specific date and time. Transportation via Uber or Lyft can be affordable for local transportation needed. Download the Uber and/ or Lyft app for details on ride costs and availability.