BCAG launches B-Line FLEX on-demand transit in Paradise and Magalia

By AI, Created 5:13 AM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Butte County Association of Governments will launch B-Line FLEX on May 26, giving Paradise and Magalia riders curb-to-curb service for $2 per trip. The change also folds Route 40 into Route 41 and shifts some riders from fixed stops to app-based on-demand service.

Why it matters: - B-Line FLEX gives Paradise and Magalia residents a cheaper, more flexible way to travel within the service area. - The launch is part of BCAG’s broader effort to rebuild and expand B-Line service in Butte County. - Riders in the Pearson and Clark areas lose fixed stops but gain curb-to-curb service from wherever they are.

What happened: - Butte County Association of Governments will launch B-Line FLEX on May 26, 2026, in Paradise and Magalia. - The service offers curb-to-curb, on-demand transit for $2 per rider, per trip. - Riders use the free Rides on Demand app to request a pickup and enter a destination. - B-Line FLEX vehicles hold up to eight passengers. - Service runs Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. - BCAG said the new service is the latest step in its effort to build a better B-Line for Butte County residents.

The details: - B-Line FLEX has no fixed stops and no schedules to memorize. - Riders can travel anywhere within the Paradise and Magalia service area. - Route 40 will be absorbed into Route 41 effective May 26. - Route 41’s new end stop will be at Lakeridge Circle / Holiday Market in Magalia. - Residents in the Pearson and Clark areas, previously served by fixed-route stops, will now be served by B-Line FLEX. - New schedules and maps will be available on May 26. - Riders can connect to Route 41, which links Paradise and Magalia to Chico, at the Paradise Transit Center and at Lakeridge Circle. - A temporary stop is in place during construction at Lakeridge Circle. - A Token Transit pass active at boarding covers the Route 41 transfer at no additional charge within 60 minutes. - Riders making that connection should tell their FLEX driver at pickup so the driver can radio ahead. - Monthly passes cost $80 on the Token Transit app and are valid on B-Line FLEX and all B-Line fixed-route services. - Smart cards and cash cannot be used on B-Line FLEX. - More information is available at B-Line FLEX. - Riders can also download the Rides on Demand app.

Between the lines: - The service change shifts parts of the local network away from traditional bus stops and toward app-based demand response. - The move appears designed to improve coverage in lower-density areas while keeping a connection to Chico through Route 41. - BCAG framed the launch as both a service upgrade and a response to community recovery needs.

What’s next: - New schedules and maps go live on May 26. - Riders will be able to start using B-Line FLEX the same day the service launches. - BCAG says B-Line FLEX is one of several recent improvements under the Building a Better B-Line initiative, which also includes new electric vehicles, expanded paratransit service, and an upcoming intercity route to Sacramento. - BCAG continues to operate Butte Regional Transit, known as B-Line, throughout Butte County.