Accessible Public Transportation Services
Pierce Transit is committed to making public transportation accessible to everyone. Our buses are equipped with features to help passengers with disabilities travel safely and comfortably, including wheelchair ramps, priority seating and audible stop announcements. We also offer free travel training for seniors and people with disabilities, along with SHUTTLE ADA paratransit service for individuals who are unable to use the regular bus system because of their disability. Explore the services and resources below to find the transportation options that best meet your needs.
Accessible Bus Features
All Pierce Transit buses are accessible for mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, electric scooters, and walkers. Additionally, our operators are trained to assist passengers with disabilities when boarding or exiting the vehicle. To make your trip easier, here are some tips to follow when boarding a bus:
- Wait in line with the other passengers and inform the operator you wish to board the bus.
- The operator will use the lift or ramp when necessary for boarding or exiting. However, the combined weight of a wheelchair and passenger cannot exceed 600 pounds on local service coaches. For cutaway fleet or SHUTTLE-style vehicles, the combined weight limit is 800 pounds.
- Passengers using the lift or ramp may exit at any designated stop, unless the lift cannot be deployed or other conditions make the stop unsafe.
- All mobility devices should be properly stored, outside the aisle and in the securement area as necessary, for the safety of all passengers.
All Pierce Transit buses are designed to accommodate passengers who are unable to climb steps or use mobility devices. For example, buses have low floors or are equipped with lift platforms to make boarding easier. In addition, customers who have difficulty climbing stairs can ask the operator to use the bus’s kneeling feature. This lowers the front of the bus, bringing the first step closer to curb level.
Our operators are trained to allow time for individuals with disabilities to be seated.
Wheelchair Lift or Ramp
All Pierce Transit routes are accessible. This means Pierce Transit provides ramp- or lift-equipped buses on all scheduled trips. Additionally, we designate and maintain as many bus stops as possible to ensure they are safely accessible to customers. As a result, customers can request ramp or lift deployment when boarding or exiting at any stop.
Accessible bus stops are marked with a wheelchair emblem on the bus stop sign. However, some stops may not have this symbol because conditions could make ramp or lift deployment unsafe. In these situations, operators are trained to identify a safe alternative location when possible. If no safe location is available, the operator must contact the Communication Center for further instructions and inform the customer.
Pierce Transit’s SHUTTLE program provides local bus transportation for individuals with disabilities who are unable to access our fixed-route system. If you need additional transportation assistance, you may qualify for ADA paratransit service. To learn more, review the eligibility requirements and application options on our SHUTTLE page.
Traveling With Service Animals
Service Animals
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA guidelines regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or government.
Service animals are welcome on all of our buses at no additional charge.
Transit Operators may ask if an animal is a service animal or ask what tasks the animal has been trained to perform.
Service animals must be harnessed, leashed or tethered unless these devices interfere with the animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents their use. In those situations, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signals or other effective methods.
Customers using a service animal are responsible for the animal and will be held liable for the behavior and action of the animal.
Service animals must remain on the floor without blocking the aisle or on their owner’s lap. If the service animal is unable to perform the job it was trained to do while remaining on the floor or on their owners’ lap, the service animals will be permitted to ride in or on a Pierce Transit bus or paratransit vehicle seat, if available. The owner will be responsible for providing a protective cover for the full area that the service animal uses to sit.
Service animals, regardless of training or certification, may be denied transportation if the animal is out of control and you do not take effective action to control it, or if the animal’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
Non-Service Animals
Pets and non-service animals are also allowed on local* buses; however, certain requirements must be followed to ensure the comfort and safety of everyone onboard.:
Comfort and Emotional Support Animals
Comfort and emotional support animals do not meet the definition of service animals under state and federal guidelines. Therefore, animals that are not working service animals must be transported in an appropriate pet carrier or container.
Additionally, the Transit Operator may deny transportation if an animal creates a safety concern or interferes with the comfort of fellow passengers.
For more information regarding traveling with a service animal, please visit the following: Federal Transit Administration – Frequently Asked Questions
Free Travel Training
Travel Training is a free, personalized service designed to help seniors and individuals with disabilities become more independent when using public transportation. Through one-on-one instruction, you’ll learn how to plan trips, understand schedules and navigate the bus system. In addition, your Travel Trainer will customize each session to meet your individual needs. As a result, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence needed to travel independently.
During your training sessions, you’ll work with a friendly and knowledgeable Travel Trainer. Together, you’ll walk to your bus stop and review schedules, fares and other important information. For example, your trainer can help you learn how to:
- Plan your trip to specific destinations using the easiest and safest route
- Read and understand route maps and schedules
- Recognize bus numbers, stops, and landmarks
- Travel to and from bus stops
- Board the bus with a mobility device
- Pay fares and purchase passes
- Locate and transfer to other buses
- Know where and how to safely cross the street
- Travel independently and confidently by bus
- Use stop request cards
To get signed up for free Travel Training call Customer Services at 253.984.8208 or TTY relay for hearing impaired: 711. We will connect you with one of our Travel Trainers.
