Community Transit launches local, on-demand ride service in Lynnwood, Oct. 20

Community gathers to celebrate pilot of Zip Alderwood Shuttle

Snohomish County, Wash. – Community Transit staff and board members, elected officials and community partners celebrated the kick-off of a one-year pilot of the agency’s first on-demand ride service, Zip Shuttle, at the Lynnwood Convention Center today. The service launches for customers on Oct. 20 at 5 a.m.

Zip Shuttle will be available anywhere within a defined service area in the Alderwood neighborhood. The flexible service can be used for any reason, including running errands, getting to work, going to the library or making connections to a bus. The service will run from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day and will cost the same price as a local bus trip.

“Many of the people served by YWCA’s programs don’t have easy access to transportation. Many have faced homelessness, domestic violence and mental health challenges. Many of them are parents with children. All of them have transportation needs,” said Kresha Green, YWCA regional director of housing and a member of the community working group that helped develop the pilot. “Zip Shuttle will help them access those critical things like jobs, healthcare and school. But it will also help them travel for fun, to visit family and friends, to go to the park or the library or to community events.”

“We are so excited to see this pilot come to fruition because it will give people a convenient and affordable way to get around the busy, growing Alderwood area,” said Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell. “We have appreciated partnering with our community members and Community Transit to help design Zip Shuttle, to ensure we are meeting specific transportation needs of this community.”

“Zip Alderwood Shuttle is the first Community Transit innovative services pilot to test a new way for people to get around in a local community,” said Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz. “We’re looking forward to learning from the Alderwood community’s experience with on-demand Zip service so we can continue to create new travel solutions for people in Snohomish County.”

How to Ride

Customers can request a ride when they need it, and be picked up from any location within the service area, similar to ride-hailing services. When ready to request a ride, customers provide their pick-up and drop-off location, and number of people riding. Zip shuttles include ADA-accessible vehicles, and drivers are trained to assist people who use mobility devices.

To book a trip using the mobile phone app, download the GOIN’ – Rides for All app on a smartphone:

• Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/goin-rides-for-all/id1363873138
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goin.rider.app&hl=en_US&gl=US

To book a trip by calling, dial (425) 521-5600.

Wait times for pick up will vary based on demand. Customers can expect to wait 10-15 minutes for the shuttle to arrive. The Zip Alderwood Shuttle service area includes Lynnwood Transit Center for riders connecting to bus routes.


How to Pay

Community Transit Zip Shuttle riders pay $2.50 or less, just as they would on a local bus. Riders 18 and younger are free. Pay with ORCA cards, ORCA LIFT, or credit/debit cards. Cash is accepted and exact change is required. After taking a Zip trip with your ORCA card, transfers to local buses or a second Zip trip are free within two hours.


Background

To develop this pilot, Community Transit began working closely with the City of Lynnwood and local community organizations in 2021 to better understand how to meet local transit needs. The Alderwood area was chosen as the first test area because of its growing population, popular destinations and the new Link light rail station being built in Lynnwood. A detailed assessment found travel gaps and barriers to accessing transportation in Lynnwood. Zip’s quick-trip, on-demand shuttle solution was proposed to address these needs. Community Transit is currently exploring three additional community pilot projects with the cities of Arlington, Darrington, and Lake Stevens.