Metro helps seniors and people with disabilities stay on the go
 King County’s Accessible Services provides paratransit services to meet the needs of residents with disabilities, and this year its ACCESS Transportation fleet replaced 60 vehicles with new 2002 Champion Challengers (above). The new vans provide flexible seating capacity to accommodate up to 14 passengers without wheelchairs, or combinations of up to eight passengers and two wheelchairs (right). [click on the small photo to see a larger version.]
With expanding programs and some special offers, now is a great time to try out Metro’s services for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
King County Metro Transit offers a variety of services to meet the transportation needs of residents with disabilities. The goal is to promote equal opportunity and maximize independence by using public transit.
Metro works hard to make its regular service meet the transportation needs of seniors and people with disabilities. All Metro buses include accessibility features such as wheelchair lifts and priority seating. Drivers wait for riders to be seated and announce major stops along the route. For more information about free bus travel training for seniors or people with disabilities, call (206) 749-4242 and TTY users can call (206) 749-4244.
Metro’s Community Partnership Program also works with non-profit organizations so they can provide flexible, local transportation services. The program offers retired lift-equipped vehicles, free maintenance, and driver training.
And, if the bus doesn’t work for you, or your community doesn’t have the benefit of one of the Community Ride Network vans, call (206) 205-5000, then press 4, followed by 3. You will reach someone who can tell you about the ACCESS Transportation program, designed for people who are unable, because of a disability, to ride a regular bus some or all of the time. This shared-ride, curb-to-curb service may be the transportation solution for keeping you active and on the go.
The ACCESS fleet is comprised of approximately 280 vehicles – some of them brand new. The fleet is made up of several different vehicle types ranging from small minivans to larger minibuses that can transport up to 14 passengers.
This year, ACCESS replaced 60 vehicles with 2002 Champion Challengers. The seating capacity is flexible and can be quickly reconfigured by raising or lowering the forward facing fold-away seats. Passenger seating capacities can be reconfigured to accommodate up to 14 passengers without wheelchairs, or combinations of up to eight passengers and two wheelchairs.
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