Hopelink & King County Metro Expand Community Van
King County Metro’s Community Van service partners with Hopelink as an initiative aimed at improving transportation options for communities in King County. Imagine having a convenient way to get around your neighborhood or to nearby destinations without relying solely on traditional public transit or your own vehicle. That’s where Community Van comes in.
At its core, Community Van is a ridesharing program designed to fill transportation gaps in areas where traditional transit might not reach or where there’s limited service. Rural areas with low ridership are one example of this.
The program began operations in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park in 2019, and since then, expanded into the Redmond area in spring of 2024. Melissa Allan, a Transportation Planner for King County Mobility said, “The program is currently working on expanding service from the Duvall and Carnation areas to include the entire Snoqualmie Valley area in partnership with Hopelink.” Community Van also operates in many other areas of King County.
“King County Metro explores shared community trips for non-commute purposes, promoting accessibility and cost-effective transit beyond urban centers,” said Teresa Ngo, Program Manager for Community Van at Hopelink.
Photo Credit: City of Redmond
King County Metro’s collaboration with organizations like Hopelink underscores its commitment to serving underrepresented communities. By analyzing demographic data, King County Metro has identified equity priority areas, ensuring transit access for those who need it most.
“The first time we used the van, two people who used walkers came along,” shared Bobbie, a rider with Community Van. “Luckily the van had a ramp so that was pretty good. I like how this service allows people from different backgrounds to use the van even if they might have a mobility challenge.”
Partnerships with local organizations play a pivotal role in promoting Community Van use for riders like Bobbie. Despite jurisdictional differences, technological upgrades – including tablets for trip logs and data analytics – promise to streamline operations and enhance outreach efforts.
Flexible Routes: Unlike fixed-route buses, Community Van routes are flexible and can be tailored to the needs of the group.
Cost-Effective: The individual costs of a Community Van ride are $2.75 for adults, $1.00 for seniors, and free for anyone 18 and under. This also includes reduced and subsidized ORCA fares. Additionally, expenses like gas and tolls are covered.
Environmentally Friendly: By encouraging carpooling and reducing the number of individual vehicles on the road, Community Van helps lower carbon emissions.
Easy to Use: Booking a ride with Community Van is simple and convenient. Riders can call, text, email or submit an online form through this website to schedule trips and coordinate with other passengers.
Accessibility: Community Vans are equipped with features such as wheelchair lifts to accommodate passengers with mobility challenges and with a 12-passenger van available, the service can accommodate a variety of group sizes.
With expansions into areas like Snoqualmie Valley, King County Metro is embracing new technology in vehicles to meet growing demands. “Along with the tablet upgrades to the vans, integration efforts with the ORCA team aim to enhance payment options, ensuring a seamless experience for riders,” said Melissa, a King County Metro representative.
One of the other unique aspects of Community Van is that it’s driven by volunteer community members themselves. These could be neighbors, coworkers, or friends who want to share rides to common destinations, like grocery store runs, shuttles to community events, and even trips to popular nature destinations.
Melissa Allan performs a trip-check to ensure the van is ready to safely hit the road.
Photo Credit: Deen Sanwal
“Last year a few of us went to Snoqualmie Falls. It was beautiful and Ron, our volunteer driver, was excellent,” Bobbie joyfully shared. “It was a great day up there and everybody had fun.”
Since then, Bobbie has continued advocating for more of her friends and neighbors to use the service. “I’ve been trying to book more trips, and different kinds like to grocery stores and other stuff we really like,” she shared.
The program’s two-rider minimum requirement and cost-effective options make it a lifeline for seniors and those with mobility challenges who can travel together to get to common destinations. Wheelchair accessibility and safety protocols seek to further enhance the program’s inclusivity and reliability.
Photo Credit: City of Redmond
For volunteers like Diana B., dependability means partnering with riders throughout the process. “I always communicate with folks to let them know I’m their driver and what time I’ll be there,” said Diana. “I’m always on time so riders don’t get worried because a lot of times it’s a time sensitive trip.”
And riders aren’t the only ones benefiting from Community Van. “Last year I volunteered to drive the van for Duvall Days,” said Diana. “I probably had 100 people come through the van, and I loved the diversity of people and the variety of interesting conversations. What I love about Community Van is that I get to interact with different people and learn about them.”
Community Van is a reservation based rideshare service operated by King County Metro. Trips are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for same day trips to destinations up to two hours from van pick up locations for groups of two to eleven passengers when volunteer drivers are available. Residents in the community aged 21+ with a valid Washington State driver’s license and a minimum of five years driving history are welcome to apply as a driver. Drivers must meet criteria and complete training to be eligible and ride free for all trips when driving. Click here to explore riding, volunteering, or booking options!