When I moved to Yuma in 2016, I found myself in a vastly different transit world from the abundance in South Korea. The first YCAT I rode was the Orange 2. It ferries between Downtown Yuma and Arizona Western College.
One random weekday in 2023, I finally decided to review it as part of my Transit Trekker Initiative. I pulled up to Arizona Western College’s main campus as the sun shone brightly. We walked to the stop, which was pretty nice for a terminal. There was plenty of shade and seating. There also used to be a real-time screen bus arrival screen, but that’s long gone. When we boarded a diesel 40-footer, the ridership was at three.
We exited AWC, then turned right onto 24th Street, past the schools and housing. Then, we swung a left onto Araby Road, where someone alighted at a dusty roadside stop. We then swung right onto 32nd Street. That is a key (yet slower) link between Yuma proper and the Fortuna Foothills to the east.
Along 32nd St, the “stops” are lacking. They are signs zip-tied to the side of the dusty road. That all ended when we turned right onto Avenue 3E, then left on 24th Street again (a discontinuity exists).
Our next major destination was the Yuma Palms Shopping Center. Reaching there requires using Pacific Avenue, 16th Street, and then Yuma Palms Parkway. Once we saw a Kneader’s Bakery, we turned left onto Castle Dome Avenue. That curved northward and went down a hill. We reached a sheltered stop near Target. This is where people can change to the Flixbus, Greyhound, or the Quartzsite Camel Express.
There was a roundabout when we reached 8th Street. It used to have regular traffic lights. We turned onto it to go by the I-8 freeway. Our street then became Giss Parkway, named after a State senator from the area.
Our chariot turned right on Madison Street, then right on 3rd Street. Then, we found ourselves at the downtown transit center at a derelict hotel. This is where the route changes hands into the Yellow 95.
Route: YCAT Route Orange 2 (Downtown Yuma – AWC)
Ridership
Most people go between DT Yuma and 12th St @ Castle Dome Avenue. They probably come from Yellow 95 to catch intercity buses or go to Target. Beyond that, only about 5 people are on, even though AWC is a major destination. In other words, riders are barely college students.
According to the numbers, this route saw 2,386 monthly riders in February 2026. For year-long statistics, the most reliable data available is for Fiscal Year 2019 (July 2018 – June 2019), with around 35,000 total riders. That translates to 2,917 per month. So, ridership has been declining from prior Fiscal Years (2016 had a record high of about 3,001 monthly riders).
Pros
It covers the bases in East Yuma. A list of destinations of note is under the “Special Spots” section below. Uniquely, it is one of the times when a transit route is allowed onto mall property.
Cons
With buses only running every hour along the route’s full length, a lot of planning is required. Making it worse is the bad habit of this route being late, particularly during midday. Something must be badly wrong with the timing, especially considering that it “runs through” with the 95. Moreover, covering the bases has the side effect of making a 15-minute drive into a 30-minute journey.
Some stops along 32nd Street are only a sign surrounded by fast traffic and sandy ground. These are deplorable conditions that the Arizona Department of Transportation (the roadway owner) must resolve.
Special Spots
- Downtown Yuma has plenty of places to dine and see, including:
- While not directly served, Yuma Palms offers car-centric shopping options.
- Some trips serve the depot/office on Atlantic Avenue. Please check the schedule.
- You might be able to spot some examples of agriculture along 32nd Street.
- Arizona Western College (AWC) is a major higher-education institution here.
Rating: D+
While this line provides essential service for East Yuma, it falls in many ways. From the delays during midday runs to the drab stops along 32nd Street, it is no surprise that many people prefer to drive.
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