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About
Transportation
Overview
People with disabilities have the same needs to travel to jobs, visit family, go to appointments, and access their communities in other ways as their non-disabled neighbors. Poverty, mobility issues and other realities of many types of disability mean that public transportation and alternatives to driving represent a key lifeline to independence for many people with disabilities.
King County residents and visitors enjoy access to a wide range of transportation options. Some of these options include busses, ferries, trains and specialized transportation for people with disabilities. Public transportation providers, such as Metro, offer busses that are 100% wheelchair accessible, and discounted fares for eligible riders with disabilities. Metro also offers reduced cost "scrip" (vouchers) for use in paying for rides by taxi. Medicare and Medicaid will pay for some individualized transportation services to and from medical or therapy appointments. Some community centers and non-profit organizations also provide transportation on a limited basis.
With the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act and the activities of civil rights group like ADAPT (formerly American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation), public transportation must be accessible to people with disabilities. Where public transportation cannot be made accessible, alternatives must be provided. Busses on standard or "fixed" routes must be wheelchair accessible, and operators must provide assistance to riders with disabilities such as calling out stops at regular intervals, and providing other assistance to riders with disabilities as needed. Where bus stops cannot be made accessible, or where people with disabilities do not live near enough to a fixed route with regular bus stops, more flexible and individualized "paratransit" services must be provided.
Regional Reduced Fare Permit
Sometimes called a senior or disabled bus pass, this permit costs $3 and entitles you to reduced fares on Metro, Washington State ferries, Community Transit, Pierce Transit and other bus agencies in the region. A Personal Care Attendant Regional Reduced Fare Permit is available for persons who need assistance to ride the bus. This allows the Personal Care Attendant riding with a person with a disability to accompany the person they are assisting without having to pay an additional fare.
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The number to call to get an application for a Regional Reduced Fare Permit is:
Metro Customer Service - (206) 553-3060
Travel by Bus
The most common way of getting around King County is using regular bus routes with established schedules and stops. Bus service connects many destinations and neighborhoods throughout King County (Metro), between King and Pierce Counties (Pierce Transit), King and Snohomish Counties (Community Transit) and regionally (Sound Transit). Getting to a particular destination may require changing busses one or more times, or going through a "transit center" or "hub" where several bus routes and/or services intersect. All busses have lifts for wheelchair and scooter users and others who use a walker or cane or simply have trouble climbing steps, however lifts cannot be used at some bus stops. You can find out which stops are lift accessible by contacting Metro or Sound Transit before traveling. Drivers are required to assist passengers with disabilities with seating, and helping riders reach their destination by calling out stops at regular intervals and specific stops by request.
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The number to call for Metro bus schedule information is:
Metro Rider Information Line - (206) 553-3000
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Visit the Metro web site at:
http://transit.metrokc.gov/
DART and ACCESS
There are two semi-direct or varied-route bus services in King County besides the regular bus service we know as Metro. One is Dial-A-Ride Transit (DART) which is a van with fewer passengers that can go off its regular route to pick up passengers. The other is ACCESS, which goes door to door for eligible citizens with disabilities.
DART doesn't go door-to-door but it does run on a fixed but looser schedule than the regular Metro transit buses. DART buses have regular stops at some Park and Rides and other locations, and other "non-fixed" locations along general routes. DART buses can pick you up at one of their regular stops, or (with advance notice) at a location near your home. You may board or get off at a nearby intersection or other location more handy than a regular stop. It may be on your street corner or a couple blocks away. You can make arrangements with DART for 30 days in advance and can be picked up every day for 30 days. For new riders, you have to call two hours before being picked up to arrange the ride. You can't always arrange to be picked up when you want to be because sometimes the van is already full or can't go that far off route. DART drivers can go off their regular routes for short distances if you make a reservation ahead of time. DART is operated by King County and individual cities have their own services. The DART bus service is available to everyone and costs the same amount as a regular bus ride. DART operates from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays but not the weekends. You can schedule a special pick-up or drop-off near DART routes by calling the number of the DART provider local to you.
The other direct bus service is ACCESS and this "paratransit" is available for eligible people with disabilities who can't use regular bus service or DART all or part of the time. This might be because of the disability itself, or because the person with a disability lives too far (more than three blocks) from a regular bus stop, or the nearest regular stop is not accessible (at the top of a hill; can't accommodate a wheelchair lift, or not physically accessible for other reasons).
- The number to call to schedule a ride via
ACCESS is:
Metro ACCESS Ride Line - (206) 205-5000 or toll-free (866) 205-5001
Medical Appointments, Cabulance and other Paratransit
Individuals with Medicaid (medical coupons) can have transportation provided to and from Medicaid supported services (medical appointments, therapy and related services). This service is paid for by Medicaid, and can offer curb-to-curb transportation to and from the appointment. Depending on who the carrier is, sometimes drivers cannot leave their vehicles to assist people out of their homes, or into or out of the place where their appointment is. Personal Care Attendants can ride along at no additional cost. Riders can travel by taxi, or if wheelchair transport is needed, by accessible van.
- The number to call to schedule a ride to a
medical appointment (must be Medicaid eligible) is:
Hopelink - (800) 923-7433
Taxi Scrip
Metro's Taxi Scrip Program gives you a 50 percent discount on regular taxi service. You may buy up to six books of taxi scrip each month. Each $10 book of taxi scrip cost you only $5. Most taxi companies accept taxi scrip, but you should always check when you call to request a cab. At the end of your taxi trip, you pay the driver the meter fare using taxi scrip instead of money. To register for taxi scrip, you must have a Regional Reduced Fare Permit, sometimes called a senior or disabled bus pass, be a King County resident age 18 or older, and be low income.- To learn how to order taxi scrip, call:
Metro Customer Service - (206) 553-3000
Other Transportation Options
Other modes of public transportation also offer accessible travel options, and sometimes discounts for people with disabilities. Sound Transit's commuter train, Amtrak passenger trains, and the Washington State Ferries all offer wheelchair accessibility and discounts for people with disabilities. Private transportation providers such as airlines, Greyhound and other providers can also provide accessible options and/or accommodation and information for the regional transportation needs of people with disabilities.
Local Transportation Resources
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Regional Accessible Transit Guide
http://www.ratg.org -
Metro's Accessible Bus and Van Services
http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/accessible/access.html -
Seattle/King County Transportation Providers
http://www.arcofkingcounty.org/guide/services/organizations/king/transportation
Other Information Resources:
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Easter Seals Project Action
http://www.projectaction.org/ -
49 CFR Part 37 - Transportation Services for Individuals with Disabilities (ADA)
http://www.fta.dot.gov/library/legal/ada/adareg37.html
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| Listings in Community Connections and events on the Community Calendar come from a variety of host organizations and individuals. For information about events, please contact the event sponsor. The distribution of information via Community Connections does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of any specific organization or event by The Arc of King County, the King County Developmental Disabilities Division, or affiliated entities. |
This page last updated: Sunday, November 25, 2007