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Resources - Transportation

Parents on the go demand quick and easy access to the resources and services they need! IdleChild's Resource section is every family's essential guide to schools, entertainers, childcare, education - even great ideas for weekend fun or a getaway. And much more!

Metro Bus Tracker
Seattle Area Bus Information
Bellevue Transit
Tacoma Link Light Rail
Walking Information
Biking Information
Train Information
Ferry Information
Olympia Dash Shuttle
Metro Street Car Information
Maps
Bellingham Transportation

Metro Bus Tracker

The information for the bus tracker is provided by King County Metro. When using this service, you will be forwarded to their site. You can also find your bus stop in areas below:
North Seattle
North East Side
Seattle
East Side
South Seattle
South East Side
East King County

Seattle Area Bus Information

Downtown Seattle is amply served by regional and city bus services. You can always catch a bus that will fit your schedule. King County Metro, Community Transit, Pierce Transit and Sound Transit operate regular and express services into and out of the urban core. You can even ride free through much of Downtown!

Bus Pass Sales http://buypass.metrokc.gov/
Metro Bus Timetables http://transit.metrokc.gov/oltools/timetables.html
Sound Transit http://www.soundtransit.org/
Community Transit http://www.communitytransit.org/
Pierce Transit http://www.piercetransit.org/index.htm

Want to know how to get there by bus? Try out the tripplanner, Google Bus or Spot Bus, you can put in your to and from locations as well as what time you want to be there (or leave) and get point to point bus information.

Metro Tripplanner http://tripplanner.metrokc.gov/
Google Transit http://www.google.com/transit
Spot Bus http://www.spotbus.com/

Where's your bus? Use one of these links to see where your bus is.

Busview http://busview.org/busview_launch.jsp
Metro Bus Tracker http://transit.metrokc.gov/oltools/tracker.html

Looking for general information on how to ride the bus, bus timetables, or what buses service downtown? Try the below link.

Metro Guide to Downtown Bus Service http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/neighborhoods/dtsea-guide.html

Flexpass http://www.urbanmobilitygroup.com/services_flexpass.php

Want to know what is happening to transit in the future, check out the following:

Seattle Transit Plan http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/transitnetwork.htm
King County Plan http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/tp/transit/six-year.stm

Park and Ride Lots http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/parknride/parknride.html

Bellevue Transit

The Bellevue Transit system takes riders all over the city via buses, and is connected to Metro Transit and Sound Transit in Western Washington.
Phone: (425) 452-4345

Ferry Information

The State-run ferry services are a distinctive part of commuting in the Puget Sound region. Ferry services are tied to city and regional transportation networks so that you can make those final links. Sip a coffee on the deck and admire the view on your way to work-quintessentially Seattle!

Washington State Ferries http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/
Washington State Ferries Current Schedules http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules/current/
Washington State Ferries Tickets/Passes
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/wave2go/

Don�t forget about the Water Taxi service on Lake Union and Elliott Bay. This is a great way to get across without taking your car.

Elliott Bay Water Taxi http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/oto/water_taxi.html
Lake Union Water Taxi http://www.lakeunionwatertaxi.com/

Alaska Marine Highway System: Bellingham is the southern port of the Alaska Ferry, which departs from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven (I-5 Exit 250). The ferry makes a week-long voyage through Alaska’s Inside Passage. For information and reservations, call (360) 676-8445 or (800) 642-0066. Cruise terminal parking: Self-pay lot, no reservations. Day use:$6.00. Weekly: $30.00.

Lummi Island Ferry: Hourly car ferry departs Gooseberry Point. Take I-5 Exit 260. Call (360) 676-6692.

Metro Street Car Information

The South Lake Union Streetcar connects South Lake Union, the new waterfront park, Denny Triangle and Downtown. The Streetcar will run on a 1.3 mile (each way) route and will make 11 stops, with a travel time of 10 minutes from Westlake to South Lake Union.

Seattle Streetcar, South Lake Union http://www.seattlestreetcar.com/

The Seattle Waterfront Streetcar line is back and running along Seattle's waterfront. For more information check out Metro's website.

Waterfront Street Car http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/wfsc/waterfront_streetcar.html

Train Information

Sounder Commuter Rail offers rush-hour train service running as far north as Everett and as far south as Tacoma with stops along the way carrying commuters to and from Downtown Seattle Monday through Friday. You can rely upon your precise commute time every trip. Amenities include worktables with computer plug-ins, fully accessible restrooms in each car and cup holders

Sound Transit Commuter Rail http://www.soundtransit.org/x71.xml

Need to get the office from the Train station, but the bus service is limited and it is too far to walk.� Check out Metro Vanshare, it is a great link from the Train to your office.

Tacoma Link Light Rail

Getting around in downtown Tacoma is both easy and free! The Tacoma Link light rail provides complimentary service from one end of downtown to the other. The Link stops at the Dome District, 25th Street, The Museum District, the Convention Center and the Theater District. It operates 365 days a year, and trains arrive at stations about every 10 minutes. Also free: parking in the six-story Link garage by the Dome Station.

Tacoma Link Light Rail Schedule

Walking Information

Did you know the City of Seattle, King County and Washington State Department of Transportation all have web sites to encourage walking? They are all great resources for walking maps, rules of the road, and safety information.

King County Walking Maps http://www.metrokc.gov/health/exercise/maps.htm
City of Seattle Pedestrian Program http://www.cityofseattle.net/transportation/pedestrian.htm
Washington State Department of Transportation http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/walk/
Walk Olympia http://www.olympiawa.gov/community/transportation/walking/

Biking Information

Metro’s Bikestation is one of the many options that is helping to make Seattle bicycle-friendly. All Metro buses are equipped with bike racks to make it easy to combine biking with riding the bus or consider taking the bus in and riding home. In Downtown police and safety ambassadors ride bikes, so get out and ride.

Seattle Bikestation
http://www.bikestation.org/seattle/

Seattle is rated one of the best spots in the country to bike, Seattle Department of Transportations website is a great place to go to find out basic information on biking, from etiquette to traffic codes. You can also find Bike routes and trails.

Seattle Department of Transportation - Bike program
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikeprogram.htm

Did you know you can bring your bike on the ferry? Washington State Ferries has a bike permit to encourage the use of bikes on the ferries. This permit entitles you to ride your bicycle on all Washington State Ferry routes except the Anacortes/San Juans/ Sidney route without paying the surcharge.

Washington State Ferries Bike Permit information http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/bpp/index.cfm?type=bicycle&fuseaction=rules

Another great resource for bike maps is King County. Bike maps are available online for all of Seattle as well as all of King County.

Washington State Bike Information
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/

Seattle Bike Maps http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikemaps.htm

Looking for information on Cycling or want to join a Bike Club? Here are some great links to Bike Clubs in the Seattle Area.

Cascade Bike Club http://www.cascade.org/Home/
Seattle Bike Club http://www.seattlebike.org/
Bike Alliance of Seattle http://www.bicyclealliance.org/index.html
Tacoma Wheelmen http://www.twbc.org

Olympia Dash

The Dash shuttle picks up and drops off people at the Capitol Visitor lot and the Farmers Market lot, as well as at 27 other stops in between. The shuttle serves many employment, retail and recreational destinations in the downtown core. Dash circulates through downtown and the Capitol Campus every 12 minutes from 6:45 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., Monday - Friday. For more information visit Intercity Transit website.

Bellingham Transportation

Border Information
Remember to bring proper identification for everyone traveling in your group when crossing the US/Canadian border.

Northbound Video Cameras at the U.S./Canadian borders
Southbound Video Cameras at the U.S./Canadian borders

Buses

Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) has more than 30 routes that link Whatcom County communities. Fares are currently 75 cents a ride. (360) 676-RIDE.

Airport

Airporter Shuttle: Professional passenger and express shuttle service transports passengers to and from SeaTac Airport, the Washington State Ferry dock at Anacortes and several other destinations. Call 1-866-235-5247 or (360) 380-8800.

Quick Shuttle

Quick Shuttle: Transports passengers arriving and departing from Canada only (Vancouver, B.C./Bellingham/Seattle). Call (800) 665-2122.

Alaska Ferry
Alaska Marine Highway System: Bellingham is the southern port of the Alaska Ferry, which departs from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven (I-5 Exit 250). The ferry makes a week-long voyage through Alaska’s Inside Passage. For information and reservations, call (360) 676-8445 or (800) 642-0066. Cruise terminal parking: Self-pay lot, no reservations. Day use:$6.00. Weekly: $30.00.

Lummi Island Ferry
Lummi Island Ferry: Hourly car ferry departs Gooseberry Point. Take I-5 Exit 260. Call (360) 676-6692.