Alternative and Specialized Transit Options

This page includes a list of public and private transportation providers who offer transportation services to Pierce County community members who have limited access to transportation due to conditions such as mobility, veteran status, disability, income, age, and/or access to public transportation.

Find more transportation resources on the Pierce County Human Services website.

  1. Pierce County-wide
  2. Key Peninsula

Around the Sound

Around the Sound is the leading long-distance transportation service in Puget Sound, specializing in serving individuals with special needs. We provide reliable transportation for those with limited mobility, including wheelchairs, scooters, gurneys, and individuals with memory challenges. Operating across Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon, we also offer flexible destination options upon request.

Learn more here.

Beyond the Borders

Beyond the Borders transportation service helps eligible riders in east and south Pierce County, who are outside of the Pierce Transit service area, access public transit, medical services, employment and shopping. The service is f​ree for eligible riders including people with disabilities, seniors 65+, veterans, youth aged 12-17, and those who identify as low income. There are currently two routes:

Sumner / Bonney Lake: This route has connections to Sound Transit. Demand response transportation, available for riders who do not live near a connector route, are available Monday-Saturday for dialysis appointments, work and other essential trips.

Spanaway / South Hill: This route has connections to Pierce Transit. Demand response transportation, available for riders who do not live near a connector route, are available Monday-Saturday for dialysis appointments, work and other essential trips.

All riders must be approved for Beyond the Borders before accessing transportation. Apply online or by calling 2-1-1.

Learn more here.

Catholic Community Services

Our volunteer transportation service provides low-income seniors and adults with disabilities door-to-door transportation to medical, dental, grocery shopping and essential errands. Our volunteer drivers are generous, well-trained individuals; the service helps maintain independence and dignity and really "Brings Community Home." For Intake/Client Services & All Transportation, Call (844) 851-9380.

Learn more here.

Paratransit Services, Inc.

The Mission of Paratransit Services is to provide quality coordinated transportation and community services that meet the needs of the people we are entrusted to serve. They provide free rides to Medicaid clients. To schedule a ride using our services, Pierce County clients can call 800-925-5438.

Learn more here.

Pierce Transit Runner

Pierce Transit Runner will pick you up and drop you off in certain areas where a bus may not be available – all for the same low public transit fare. Convenient, fast, and affordable on-demand transportation is at your fingertips to help you get to work, school, shopping or connect to local buses or regional rail. Runner program is available in Gig Harbor, Puyallup, Ruston, Spanaway, Tacoma Tideflats and JBLM.

Learn more here.

Pierce Transit SHUTTLE

Pierce Transit’s ADA Paratransit SHUTTLE is a shared-ride service for people who, because of their disability, are unable to ride a regular Pierce Transit bus. SHUTTLE provides door-to-door service, or in some instances, transportation to transit centers or bus stops to connect with regular bus service. The SHUTTLE vehicle may make several stops along the way before it arrives at your destination. SHUTTLE will take you where you want to go, within our regular service area and hours of operation, based on fixed route service.

Learn more here.

Transportation - Puget Sound Educational Service District 121 (PSESD)

PSESD Transportation operates a fleet of 34 school buses and employs 20 regular route and substitute bus drivers. The Program operates under the guidance of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Pupil Transportation Services, as well as the mandates included in the Head Start, Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) and McKinney-Vento Act standards. PSESD offers three transportation programs in Pierce County: 
  1. McKinney-Vento: PSESD Transportation McKinney-Vento program provides transportation services in our school buses to several school districts that are served by Puget Sound ESD, the program currently has nine routes that are dedicated to our McKinney-Vento students. PSESD's McKinney Vento Co-op offers nine different routes between the Fife, Bethel and Tacoma School Districts.
  2. Early Learning Transportation: PSESD Transportation provides transportation services to 600 Head Start and ECEAP students within Pierce and King counties. Transportation services are provided to those Head Start and ECEAP sub-contractors who do not have their transportation services provided through a local school district. This program supports Buckley, Bonney Lake and Orting, and Bates Technical College (Eastside Tacoma, Puyallup and Fife).
  3. Road to Independence: PSESD Transportation operates the Road to Independence (RTI) Van Program. RTI operates five passenger vans. The program is a no cost, door to door transportation service that operates in South King, North and East Pierce Counties. The program serves adults who are low income, have special needs, veterans and seniors to various locations including work, medical appointments, and other critical services. (When permitted) RTI also provides the interoffice courier services to PSESD sites throughout the South King and Pierce County areas. 

Learn more about these program here.

United Way of Pierce County

If you are a resident of Tacoma, you may be eligible for Ride United, a unique partnership with Lyft that offers free round trip rides to critical appointments specifically if you are in need of transportation for the medical trips (appointments, pharmacy, non-emergency hospital visits), employment-related trips​ (trainings, job fairs, pre-job requirements), Department of Social and Health Services trips (Social Security Administration, Rental Assistance Utility Assistance/WIC appointments, tax prep services, financial coaching, Medicaid/CHIP Benefits Access and Housing Benefits Access).

Currently service is limited to those living in the following cities: Bonney Lake, Fife, Lakewood, Midland, Parkland, Puyallup, Spanaway, South Hill, Sumner, Tacoma and University Place.

Call 1-800-572-HELP (4357) or 253-572-HELP or email access@uwpc.org to be screened for eligibility.

Learn more here.