Ride the West 17th Bus Between Downtown Topeka, Washburn Area and West Topeka
Topeka Metro identifies Route 17 as the West 17th fixed route. The route follows the West 17th Street corridor and connects riders with downtown transit services, Washburn-area stops and west Topeka destinations.
This guide explains how to check the current Route 17 schedule, find the correct stop, track the bus in real time, pay the fare, use wheelchair or bicycle features, handle holidays and delays, and get help when a trip does not appear as expected.
DOWNTOWN → WEST 17TH → WASHBURN AREA → WEST TOPEKA
Operator
Topeka Metro
Route
17 – West 17th
Service type
Fixed-route bus
Main downtown hub
Quincy Street Station
Verified
August 12, 2026
Quick rider answer
Route 17 Is Topeka Metro’s West 17th Street Bus
Topeka Metro uses route numbers that often match a street the bus follows. The agency specifically gives Route 17 as the example: Route 17 runs on West 17th Street.
Going west?
Check Route 17’s westbound destination before boarding and confirm the bus is continuing toward the west Topeka portion of the corridor.
Going downtown?
Confirm the inbound Route 17 destination and use Quincy Street Station as the primary downtown transfer point.
Need an exact arrival?
Use My Transit Ride or the stop-ID text/call system instead of relying on a copied static timetable.
Important: “17th bus schedule” can be confused with Route 17 services in other U.S. cities. This page covers Topeka Metro Route 17 – West 17th in Topeka, Kansas.
Topeka Metro currently operates 12 fixed routes. Route 17 is named West 17th, distinguishing it from West 6th, West 10th, Huntoon, Washburn, West 21st and other corridors.
QSS
Downtown Topeka
Quincy Street Station is the system’s downtown transfer center and customer-service location.
8TH
Downtown approach
Route 17 travels through downtown streets before reaching the West 17th corridor.
17
West 17th Street
The route number corresponds directly with the principal street corridor.
WU
Washburn-area access
West 17th provides transit access near Washburn University and surrounding neighborhoods.
WEST
West Topeka
Continue toward west-side commercial and residential destinations using the official live route map.
Route diagram note: the simplified route visual below explains the travel pattern only. Use My Transit Ride for exact stop locations and walking directions.
Published system operating window
Route 17 Bus Times and Service Days
Topeka Metro operates fixed-route buses Monday through Saturday. The agency warns that individual routes can begin earlier or later than the overall system operating window, so exact Route 17 departures should be checked in the live route tool.
Monday–Friday system spanAbout 5:45 AM–6:40 PM
Individual Route 17 trips may begin later than the system’s earliest bus.
Saturday system span8:15 AM–6:40 PM
Use Route 17 in My Transit Ride to confirm the exact Saturday departures.
SundayNo regular service
Topeka Metro fixed-route service is not published for Sundays.
Why there is no copied minute-by-minute timetable here: the official agency directs riders to its current route tools and real-time system. Static schedules can become wrong after service changes, detours or holiday adjustments.
Best practice: check Route 17 shortly before leaving, then arrive at the stop at least five minutes early. Topeka Metro says a bus can still be considered on time when it arrives up to five minutes after the posted time.
Boarding correctly
How to Find the Correct Route 17 Stop
Topeka Metro buses stop only at designated bus stops. A driver is not expected to stop anywhere along West 17th Street simply because a passenger is standing near the road.
1. Find the stop sign
Confirm that the stop is an official Topeka Metro boarding point.
2. Check Route 17
Make sure the stop serves Route 17 and the direction you need.
3. Read the destination sign
Route numbers appear on the front and curb side of Topeka Metro buses.
4. Be visible
Step out from a shelter or wave to the operator so it is clear that you want to board.
5. Arrive early
Topeka Metro recommends being at the stop five minutes before the posted time.
6. Check construction
Buses will not pick up or drop off in active construction or road-work areas when doing so is unsafe.
Quincy Street Station rule: once a bus closes its doors and leaves the station staging area, the operator will not stop again to board someone who arrived late. Topeka Metro also says operators do not board passengers within one block of Quincy Street Station.
Official real-time system
Track the Route 17 Bus With My Transit Ride
Topeka Metro replaced its older DoubleMap tracker with My Transit Ride. The current system can show bus locations, predicted arrivals, routes, stops, detours and service notifications.
Open My Transit Ride
Use the official browser-based tracker. You do not need to rely on an old app listing.
Enter Route 17
Search for 17 West 17th in the route field.
Select your stop
Tap the stop on the map to display predicted arrival information.
Check alerts
Look for detours, weather messages, moved stops or other service notices before leaving.
No smartphone data? Each Topeka Metro stop has an ID. Riders can text or call the stop-ID arrival system at 785-333-1113 to request estimated arrival information.
Official Topeka Metro fares
Route 17 Fare, Passes and Reduced Prices
Route 17 uses Topeka Metro’s regular fixed-route fare structure. The agency’s current fare page still identifies these rates as effective December 1, 2019.
Adult cash fare$2.00
One-way fixed-route trip.
Youth cash fare$1.50
Regular youth rate for ages 5–18 when a seasonal free-ride promotion is not in effect.
Reduced cash fare$1.00
Requires a valid Topeka Metro Reduced Fare ID.
Children under 5FREE
Up to three children under age five may ride with each paid fare.
Pass and Ride-Card Options
Fare Product
Full Fare
Youth
Reduced
24-Hour Pass
$4.00
$3.00
$2.00
31-Day Pass
$50.00
$40.00
$35.00
10-Ride Card
$18.00
$15.00
$9.00
Annual Bus Pass
$300.00
$300.00
$300.00
No exact cash? Operators do not make cash change. If you overpay, Topeka Metro can issue a change card that works as credit toward a future fixed-route trip. The change card cannot be exchanged for cash.
Summer 2026 youth promotion
Topeka Metro announced that riders age 18 and younger ride fixed-route buses free from May 1 through August 31, 2026.
High-school riders
The current agency homepage says 2026–27 high-school students ride free with a student photo ID.
Washburn riders
Washburn University and Washburn Tech students, faculty and staff can use Topeka Metro fixed routes with their qualifying iCard.
Do not assume the temporary summer promotion continues after August 31, 2026. Recheck the official fare page or call Topeka Metro if you are traveling later.
Using Quincy Street Station for Route 17 Transfers
Quincy Street Station, commonly abbreviated QSS, is Topeka Metro’s downtown transfer station at 820 SE Quincy Street, Topeka, KS 66612-1114.
Transfer planning
Route 17 can connect with other fixed routes at the downtown station. Check the next route before leaving your first bus.
Pass sales
The QSS lobby sells bus passes, cards and tickets during published customer-service windows.
Need help?
Customer-service specialists can answer questions about routes, fares, reduced-fare IDs and lost property.
Connection risk: do not assume a late Route 17 bus will automatically hold another bus. Track both services when the transfer is important.
ADA and mobility access
Route 17 Wheelchair and Accessibility Information
Topeka Metro fixed-route buses use accessible equipment. The agency states that buses have a kneeling feature and each fixed-route bus is equipped with a ramp or lift platform.
Ramp or lift
Any rider who needs the ramp can ask the operator to deploy it.
Bus kneeling
The operator can lower the bus to reduce the first-step height.
Wheelchair securement
Operators secure wheelchairs and scooters before the bus moves.
Priority seating
Front lower seats are designated for older riders and passengers with disabilities.
Stop announcements
Automated announcements identify timepoints, major intersections and transfer points.
Accessible formats
Large-print, Braille and other accessible service materials may be requested from Topeka Metro.
Reasonable modification: passengers who need an adjustment to a policy or procedure for equal access may request assistance from the operator or Topeka Metro.
Topeka Metro does not run the same level of service on every holiday. Some dates have no service, some use regular service and some use a limited holiday schedule.
Holiday
Published Fixed-Route Pattern
New Year’s Day
No service
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Limited holiday service
Presidents Day
Regular service
Memorial Day
No service
Independence Day
No service
Labor Day
No service
Thanksgiving
No service
Thanksgiving Friday
Limited holiday service
Christmas Day
No service
Limited holiday service does not mean the normal Route 17 timetable. Topeka Metro says fixed routes generally operate hourly on limited-holiday days beginning around their usual weekday starting times.
Construction, Snow, Ice and Route 17 Detours
West 17th Street and downtown Topeka can be affected by construction, events and severe weather. Topeka Metro advises riders to check its website and real-time tools when conditions disrupt normal travel.
Construction
A designated stop can be temporarily unavailable when active road work makes boarding unsafe.
Snow and ice
Topeka Metro can alter or suspend service when severe weather creates unsafe operating conditions.
Downtown events
Parades and street closures can change the normal approach to Quincy Street Station.
Current-check rule: if no closure notice is posted, that does not guarantee the bus will be exactly on time. Use My Transit Ride for vehicle predictions.
Downtown transit hub
Quincy Street Station Map and Boarding Area
Quincy Street Station is located at 820 SE Quincy Street, Topeka, KS 66612-1114. It is Topeka Metro’s central customer-service and transfer location.
Board at the assigned station area: once Route 17 leaves its staging location, the operator will not stop nearby to collect riders who missed boarding inside the station.
Lost an Item on Route 17?
Items found on Topeka Metro buses or property are handled through Quincy Street Station Lost and Found.
Record Route 17 and your direction of travel.
Write down the approximate boarding and exit time.
Describe the item in detail.
Call 785-783-7000.
Visit Quincy Street Station if instructed.
Bring information proving the item belongs to you.
Topeka Metro says ordinary lost items are generally kept for three weeks. Bags containing food may be discarded at the end of the day, and soiled items can be discarded immediately.
Do not ask the driver to stop mid-route and search the bus. Topeka Metro states that operators will not stop during a trip to look for lost property.
When calling about Route 17: give the route number, direction, stop ID, date and approximate time. Those details make it easier for customer service to identify the trip.
Route 17 Checklist Before You Leave
Confirm you need Topeka Metro Route 17 – West 17th.
Check the current day’s service pattern.
Open My Transit Ride for the exact stop.
Check active construction or weather notices.
Arrive at the stop at least five minutes early.
Have the correct fare, pass or qualifying ID ready.
Wave or make yourself visible to the operator.
Read the bus destination sign before boarding.
Pull the cord or press the stop strip before your destination.
Never cross directly in front of the bus after exiting.
PDF disclosure: no current Route 17-specific official timetable PDF was surfaced during this review. Rather than embed an old or third-party document, this page sends riders to Topeka Metro’s current Route 17 and real-time systems.
Route, fare, accessibility, contact and service information reviewed August 12, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 17th Bus Schedule
What is the 17th bus schedule in Topeka?
The relevant Topeka Metro service is Route 17 – West 17th. Exact current departures should be checked through the official Route 17 page or My Transit Ride.
Does Route 17 run on West 17th Street?
Yes. Topeka Metro specifically identifies Route 17 as the West 17th route and uses it as an example of a route number matching the street it serves.
Does Route 17 run on Sunday?
Topeka Metro publishes regular fixed-route operation Monday through Saturday, not Sunday.
How do I know when Route 17 is coming?
Open My Transit Ride and search Route 17 or your stop. You can also use the stop-ID text or call service at 785-333-1113.
How much is the Route 17 bus fare?
The standard Topeka Metro adult fixed-route cash fare is $2.00. Youth and reduced-fare prices may be lower, and qualifying students may ride free under current programs.
Can Washburn University students ride Route 17 free?
Topeka Metro says eligible Washburn University and Washburn Tech students, faculty and staff may ride fixed routes using their qualifying iCard.
Are Route 17 buses wheelchair accessible?
Topeka Metro fixed-route buses provide kneeling capability plus a ramp or lift. Operators assist with mobility-device securement.
Can I take a bicycle on Route 17?
Yes, subject to rack availability and Topeka Metro’s bicycle rules. Fixed-route buses have front racks for up to three qualifying bicycles.
What if Route 17 is late?
Check My Transit Ride for the live vehicle location, predicted arrival and current alerts. Construction and severe weather can affect the schedule.
Where is Quincy Street Station?
Quincy Street Station is at 820 SE Quincy Street, Topeka, Kansas 66612-1114.
What happens if I miss Route 17 at Quincy Street Station?
Topeka Metro says that after a bus closes its doors and leaves the station staging area, it will not stop nearby to board late passengers.
Where do I report something lost on Route 17?
Call Topeka Metro Customer Service at 785-783-7000 or contact Quincy Street Station Lost and Found.
