Redmond Community Connections, Phase 2
Redmond Community Connections, Phase 2
Help us develop new transportation services
Metro and the City of Redmond are working together to bring new transportation services to Education Hill, Bear Creek, Downtown and the Southeast neighborhoods of Redmond. Almost 700 people took our survey in in May 2019 to tell us about transportation needs in these areas of Redmond. We’re now exploring solutions to meet those needs. Your feedback on this survey will help inform what services we should implement in Redmond.
Tell us what you think by Dec. 8, 2019
As a result of our last online survey, we gathered information about transportation needs and gaps in Redmond. Here are the needs that emerged:
Our priority needs are transportation solutions that:
- Respect riders' time in terms of convenience and transfer times.
- Allow flexible pickup and drop-off to allow more direct access to key local Redmond destinations such as community centers (e.g. Senior Center, Community Center, Teen Center), shopping, medical facilities, parks, recreation, and transportation hubs.
- Serve off-peak hours (mid-day, evening, weekends) to allow access to events, appointments, and other activities.
- Provide a variety of vehicle types (motorized or non-motorized) that accommodate varying travel needs, and do not compromise the accessibility needs of others.
- Are affordable and accommodate short return trips on a single fare.
Almost 700 people took our survey in in May 2019 to tell us about transportation needs in these areas of Redmond. We’re now exploring solutions to meet those needs. Your feedback on this survey will help inform what services we should implement in Redmond.
The next sets of questions will be specific to each of the three concepts below.
Proposed Potential Solutions:
- Community Ride
- Community Ride—Hub Collector
- Community Van
Concept: Community Ride
Description: Community Ride is a reservation-based, flexible service. Unlike fixed-route buses that operate only along a specific route, Community Ride can operate anywhere within a specific area. Riders can request a pick-up and drop-off anywhere within the service area, during the days and hours that Community Ride operates.
How it works:
- The proposed Community Ride service area would include the Downtown, Southeast, and Bear Creek neighborhoods of Redmond, as well as portions of the Avondale and Education Hill neighborhoods.
- This service would operate during off-peak hours (mid-day, evenings and weekends) when there is less bus service. Community feedback will help inform what hours the service should operate.
- To schedule rides, customers can call a dispatch number or request rides online. Confirmations include the pick-up time.
- Community Ride vehicles are accessible, 14-passenger transit vehicles driven by paid professional drivers who are contracted by King County Metro.
- Customers pay a regular Metro fare using ORCA, cash, valid paper transfer, or mobile ticket. Transfers to other Metro services are included with a fare paid on Community Ride.
Concept: Community Ride—Hub Collector
Description: Community Ride-Hub Collector is an on-demand, flexible service that connects riders in the Redmond area to or from a limited number of designated hubs in Redmond. The trip must begin or end at one of the hubs and can go anywhere in the service area. The hubs would include major transit centers, as well a number of key community destinations (examples: public library, community center, etc.). The hubs will be identified through community outreach.
How it works:
- The proposed Community Ride—Hub Collector service area would cover more of Redmond than the Community Ride service area. It would include Downtown, Southeast, Bear Creek, Education Hill, and Avondale neighborhoods, and a portion of North Redmond. With fewer locations for pick-up and drop-off, this service can serve more of Redmond.
- This service would operate during off-peak hours (mid-day, evenings and weekends) when there is less bus service. Community feedback will help inform what hours the service should operate.
- To schedule rides, customers can request a ride with the Community Ride app on their phone or by calling a dispatch number. Confirmations include an estimated wait time.
- Customers would only need to select a hub as either the origin or destination of their trip. The other end of the trip can be anywhere in the service area.
- Hub stops would have signage indicating it is a hub stop, and the hubs would also be listed in the app.
- Community Ride vehicles are accessible, 14-passenger transit vehicles driven by paid professional drivers who are contracted by King County Metro.
- Customers pay a regular Metro fare using ORCA, cash, valid paper transfer, or mobile ticket. Transfers to other Metro services are included with a fare paid on Community Ride.
Concept: Community Van & Community Transportation Coordinator
Description
Community Van: Provides Metro vans for local, prescheduled group trips arranged through a Community Transportation Coordinator, and driven by volunteer drivers to meet community-identified transportation needs. Riders are picked up at prearranged stops along the way to the destination. Trips are free for the volunteer driver. Riders pay a one-way Metro fare that covers the trip. Accessible vehicles are available on request. The vans would have reserved parking at two or more publicly accessible locations in Redmond.
Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC): Locally based staff member who manages and schedules the use of Community Van vehicles, recruits volunteer drivers, and promotes the service and other transportation options throughout the community. The CTC would be a staff member of a local organization (such as City of Redmond or a local non-profit) funded by Metro.