Every summer, we recognize the history, experiences, and accomplishments of people living with disabilities. In the United States, one in four people live with a disability, many of whom ride transit frequently.
At Sound Transit, we are committed to providing a transit system that is welcoming and accessible to everyone, regardless of ability.
Since this year marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we wanted to highlight how accessibility has helped shape the Stride program.
Accessibility on the Stride bus fleet
Stride bus rapid transit (BRT) service, set to launch in 2028 and 2029, will provide high-capacity and frequent bus rapid transit service to communities around Lake Washington. Accessibility has been an essential component of the program’s design since the beginning. By incorporating an accessibility mindset into each phase of the program, we’ve ensured the new regional transit service we’re building will be reliable and easy for everyone to access.
The many accessible features of Stride buses include:
Assistance for riders boarding or getting off vehicles upon request. All Sound Transit Express bus operators are trained to help in this capacity and Stride will be no different.
Priority seating for riders with disabilities and seniors on all vehicles. Operators may ask riders to make one of the seats available upon request or if a new rider needs a priority seat. Riders may also make this request of other riders if they prefer.
Ramps for ease of boarding. Riders can ask the driver to deploy the ramp, even if they do not use a mobility device. Riders using ramps can use the handrails on doors to steady themselves when entering or leaving the bus.
Handrails and straps for assistance with standing, sitting, and balance.
Visual and auditory announcements about upcoming stops and stations. Our fleet will have onboard stop announcements and signage announcing the route number and destination. Riders may always ask operators for additional information, including when they have reached their intended stop.
Two seating locations where passengers who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices can secure themselves for a safe and comfortable ride. Shoulder and lap belts are available if needed. Wheelchairs are required to be secured upon boarding.
For passengers requiring support from another person, or even a furry friend, Stride has you covered! Service animals fully under the control of their handlers are welcome at Sound Transit. Additionally, personal care attendants (PCAs) ride free if the person they are assisting holds a Reduced Regional Fare Permit (RRFP) with the PCA designation on the card. Both the rider with a disability and the PCA should have an RRFP with the PCA designation.
We want to ensure that your time on Stride’s battery-electric buses is safe, accessible, and a fast and easy experience.
Accessibility at Stride stations
At Sound Transit, we recognize that accessibility extends beyond our vehicles. Getting to and from our stations is an essential design component we plan for so that our services are accessible to people who walk, bike, and roll. During construction, the Stride program will build new sidewalks; add crosswalks, protected signals and signage; refurbish neglected sections of trails and roads; and add lighting in areas around stations.
Speaking of our stations…
Our planners made strategic decisions on where to place the 25 Stride stations so that they would be accessible to as many people as possible. We wanted to make sure the stations would be close to where you work, live, and play and make it easy to connect to other transit services.
Picking the right location for our stations reduces the difficulty for travelers getting to and from stations. We do recognize that any given location may not be perfect for everyone. For those who may be eligible and are unable to easily reach a Stride station, Sound Transit’s paratransit services can assist with that part of the journey.
You can call the following agencies to obtain eligibility information or schedule a ride:
King County Metro at 206-263-3113 or 1-866-205-5001/TTY Relay: 711 to obtain eligibility information.
To schedule a paratransit trip, call 206-205-5000/TTY Relay 711 or 1-866-205-5001. For TTY users only, call 1-877-749-4286 to schedule a ride.
Community Transit at 425-347-5912/TTY Relay: 711 to schedule a ride or an eligibility assessment.
Pierce Transit at 253-984-8216/TTY Relay: 711 to obtain eligibility information.
To schedule a paratransit ride, call 253-581-8100/TTY Relay 711.
This service is completely free and uses shuttle buses that travel to the locations that work best for each eligible rider. For areas Sound Transit does not serve, we work in coordination with other transit providers that can provide access.
Your Stride station experience will be similar to Link light rail stations, where riders pay before boarding by tapping the ORCA card readers at the station platforms.
Ticket vending machines will be at all stations in case you need to purchase a one-way ticket, all-day ticket, or reload your ORCA card. Stride buses will have multiple entries for easy access, and stations will have raised platforms for near-level boarding for passengers that enables quick, accessible departures.
Along the S3 Line route, there are four station locations in Bothell where the bus will need to lower itself to allow level-boarding due to design constraints. The front entrance is best for level boarding due to the way buses lower to match platform heights.
Other accessible features that will be part of Stride stations when service begins are:
Improved pedestrian access to future stations, featuring both new and restored sidewalks, better lighting, and connections to the Burke-Gilman Trail and neighborhoods.
Detectable warning strips at stations and transit centers, with small raised yellow domes that riders can easily detect visually and/or identify with a cane or underfoot. These warning strips indicate a two-foot buffer zone between the pedestrian area and the roadway for moving traffic.
Stairs, elevators, and escalators at all stations with platforms above or below street level.
Large, easy-to-read fonts and enough color contrast on signage so passengers with low vision can see and read. Braille is available on signposts at each bus bay to indicate the station location and bus bay number.
Ticket machines with large print and braille. Text-to-speech audio is accessible via headphones.
Card readers that provide a visual notice and emit a beep to indicate a successful ORCA card scan and fare deduction. Readers will emit a series of beeps if the scan fails. Failed scans usually result from inaccurate placement at the reader or insufficient funds on the card to cover the fare. Riders can add value to their ORCA card at ticket vending machines, via myORCA.com, or on the myORCA app (available on the Apple iOS Store and Google Pay Store).
Regional Reduced Fare Permits for individuals 65 or older and those with disabilities. For more information, visit info.myorca.com/using-orca/ways-to-save.
Parking facilities with accessible parking spaces and accessible pathways from parking spaces to the transit stop or station.
What resources are available?
If you would like support in navigating public transportation for yourself or a loved one, Sound Transit offers travel training. Our professional instructors are available to teach people with disabilities and seniors how to move around the community independently and safely using public transportation.
Training includes:
Group sessions where riders will learn about Sound Transit and take a field trip on the bus or train.
One-to-one training that focuses on the abilities of the individual rider and provides step-by-step instructions on how to navigate the community safely and use public transportation.
Instruction on how to board public transit vehicles using the ramp or lift, and how to maneuver safely to the space reserved for riders who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
For more information on Sound Transit's travel training, call 1-800-201-4900 / TTY Relay: 711, or email accessibility@soundtransit.org. If you or somebody you know use a transit service other than Sound Transit, that service may offer travel training as well. Other local agencies that provide travel training include:
Community Transit: Call 425-348-2379 or visit https://www.communitytransit.org/programs/transit-instruction
Everett Transit: Call 425-257-8801 or 425-257-7778 or visit https://everetttransit.org/214/Travel-Training
King County Metro Transit: Call 206-749-4242 or 206-749-4244 TTY or visit http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/accessible/riding-the-bus/transit-instruction.html
Pierce Transit: Call 253-581-8000 or 253-582-7951 TTY or visit https://www.piercetransit.org/accessible-services/.
Intercity Transit: Call 360-705-5879 or visit https://www.intercitytransit.com/how-to-ride/travel-training.
Our commitment
We believe that transit should be accessible for everyone, which is why we offer a wide range of services to make riding easier.
At Sound Transit, we recognize that the accessibility of our service would not be where it is without the hard work of disability advocates who are committed to advancing accessibility and making your travel experience as easy as possible through efforts like improved pedestrian access, level-boarding, visual and auditory announcements, and accessible engagement.
We invite customer feedback regarding the accessibility of our transportation facilities and services. To ask questions, make suggestions, provide recommendations, or submit a complaint, contact us at 1-800-201-4900 / TTY Relay 711 or email accessibility@soundtransit.org.