Sound Transit has created a regional transit system that is safe and easy to use by everyone, including pedestrians, senior citizens, people with disabilities, bicyclists and other riders. Sound Transit works with local communities, jurisdictions, and transportation agencies to place and design facilities and services that fit local community plans.
For information on transit-specific accessibility & ADA, please select one of the following:
- ST Express bus accessibility
- Sounder commuter rail accessibility
- Tacoma Link light rail accessibility
Travel Training
Sound Transit and other transit agencies in the region provide travel training at no charge for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
For more information on Sound Transit's training call 1-800-201-4900 or 1-888-713-6030 TTY or e-mail accessibility@soundtransit.org
For Community Transit call 425-348-2379
For Everett Transit call 425-257-8801 or 425-257-7778
For King County Metro Transit call 206-749-4242 or 206-749-4244 TTY
For Pierce Transit call 253-581-8000 or 253-582-7951 TTY
Intercity Transit 360-705-5879 or traveltraining@intercitytransit.com
FindARide.org
FindARide.org is a searchable database for people with special needs, case managers and agencies to find special needs transportation services in the Central Puget Sound Region. The database provides information on transit agencies; other transportation providers; agencies which help riders pick providers or arrange for rides; agencies which pay for rides; rideshare and vanpool information; home delivery; and programs which lend, rent or purchase vehicles for people with special needs. Information on accessible transit which was formerly found in the Regional Accessible Transportation Guide at www.ratg.org has now been included in www.FindARide.org.
Facilities and Vehicles
Sound Transit is guided by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA provides minimum requirements for accessibility including information for designing facilities and vehicles to accommodate people with special access needs.
All Sound Transit facilities and vehicles meet ADA standards and support the spirit of the ADA, including height and width for equipment and fixtures, floor coverings and surface treatments, signs, alarms and telephones. A design that uses ADA standards benefits all riders, not just those with disabilities. For example, aisles that are wide enough for wheelchair users are also more convenient for passengers with packages, strollers, bicycles or small children.
Sound Transit developed its own architecture and engineering design guidelines that encourage better accessibility. These guidelines address features above and beyond the ADA minimum requirements needed to provide access for riders. These include such things as Braille and raised letter bus bay markers, tactile boarding pads, in-ground wayfinding features and signage with Braille at key decision-making points. For a hard copy of Sound Transit's Accessibility Design Guidelines, send a request to accessibility@soundtransit.org.
Signage
Sound Transit has developed, engineered and implemented a system-wide signage program. All signs must conform to the requirements of the Sound Transit System-wide Signage Design Manual, except where modifications to standard sign formats are necessary for compliance with accessibility guidelines. International Symbol icons will be used wherever possible. For a hard copy of Sound Transit's Accessibility Design Guidelines, send a request to accessibility@soundtransit.org.
Finding Your Way Around Facilities
Signs and other informative design elements are important to help people get to and from stations and transit centers as well as showing them how to use the system. To meet the needs of people with different sensory abilities, such as deaf or blind riders, Sound Transit uses innovative communication tools including art or pathways that can guide by sight, feel, touch and/or voice.
Citizens' Accessibility Advisory Committee (CAAC)
As part of the community involvement process, Sound Transit formed a CAAC comprised of individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and individuals with a strong interest in the transportation challenges for people in these two groups. The committee meets bi-monthly to discuss access issues and review Sound Transit's plans for facilities and services. The committee has members from each of the five Sound Transit District subareas in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
For more information about the CAAC, including information on committee members and meetings, visit the CAAC home page.
Paratransit Services
Paratransit (usually van service) is for people unable to use or connect to fixed-route transit service (i.e. bus and rail service) and who meet ADA eligibility requirements. Sound Transit is required to provide complimentary paratransit along its Link light rail routes. Paratransit services for Tacoma Link light rail are provided by Pierce Transit.
Community Involvement
Sound Transit is committed to involving the community, particularly those with disabilities, in the development and improvement of public services. All Sound Transit public events are accessible to everyone. Materials and accommodations are provided for people with disabilities upon request. Sound Transit staff continues to meet with various community organizations that deal specifically with accessibility issues.
For information in alternative formats call 1-800-201-4900 / 1-888-713-6030 TTY or e-mail accessibility@soundtransit.org.
