King County Metro’s Access paratransit service is returning to full capacity in its vehicles starting July 3
Governor Inslee is dropping state social distancing restrictions for transit as part of his decision to reopen the state. As vaccination rates continue to climb in the Puget Sound region and other state restrictions are relaxed, Metro and transit agencies throughout the region are returning to regular service for the heart of the summer.
The restoration of full capacity means that Access will go from boarding a maximum of 6 passengers to being able to board up to 13 passengers as needed.
Passengers still must wear masks on transit and at indoor transit facilities in compliance with the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) mandate. For riders without masks, all Access vehicles have mask dispensers. For now, Access vehicles will continue to have additional physical barriers between seating areas to increase safety.
Access is still cleaning the vehicles on a daily basis and will continue equipping drivers with personal protection equipment including masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer.
Returning to full capacity on transit services also comes as the Seattle Mariners and the Seattle Storm have announced a return to full capacity at their games starting July 2, and Sounders FC will do so starting July 7. The Seattle Seahawks and the University of Washington Huskies football teams also plan a return to full capacity for home games this fall.
A reminder that Access paratransit’s online Trip Manager is the easy and convenient way to book and manage your Access trips. Riders can use Access Trip Manager to:
- Easily book most trips 24/7
- Change or cancel existing trip reservations
- Request recurring trips
- View trip history
- Track the Access van on a map when it’s on its way to pick you up.
Riders will need their Access Client ID number, email address, and date of birth to enroll. Get started here.