news

SDOT launches ‘Flip Your Trip West Seattle’ to encourage use of public transport

Posted: 30 September 2021 | | No comments yet

In order to reduce congestion and improve air and water quality, the Seattle Department of Transportation and King County Metro are working together to increase the use of West Seattle public transport.

SDOT launches 'Flip Your Trip West Seattle' to encourage use of public transport

Credit: King County Metro

On 23 September 2021, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) launched ‘Flip Your Trip West Seattle’ to support people choosing to get around without driving alone and to reduce the impacts of the West Seattle Bridge closure. The campaign will support West Seattle residents and workers travelling to, from and around West Seattle. 

As part of the programme, people who live or work in West Seattle can visit FlipYourTrip.org to sign up for a comprehensive travel options programme that includes a $25 sign-up bonus for free rides on transit and scooter/bike-share, or free vanpool fares. ‘Flip Your Trip’ also offers trip planning assistance and special informational events, as well as an opportunity to earn more free rides.

“It is our hope that this programme will incentivise people to use different modes of transportation over the Duwamish River that can also support long-term changes in travel patterns, even when the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge reopens [in 2022],” said SDOT‘s Director, Sam Zimbabwe. “Duwamish valley communities along the detour route have been severely affected by increased traffic and speeding through their neighborhoods, and we can all do our part together.”

“We know how difficult the West Seattle Bridge closure has been, and we want to do what we can to support people making travel choices that help to reduce congestion,” said SDOT’s West Seattle Bridge Program Director, Heather Marx. “Every trip someone takes riding a bus, biking, walking or rolling means one less car on the road.”

‘Flip Your Trip West Seattle’ encourages people to replace car trips with other travel options such as transit, vanpooling, biking, scooting or staying local. Anyone who lives or works in the West Seattle area is eligible to take the #FlipYourTrip pledge and receive an initial sign-up bonus worth $25 to use on the free rides of their choice. This incentive works on King County Metro buses, water taxis, Sound Transit, Seattle Streetcar and all local scooter and bike share companies (Lime, LINK, Spin and Wheels).

The campaign will also support vanpooling – covering new King County Metro vanpool riders’ first month of vanpool costs and providing monthly fare beyond the first month for eligible participants. All official King County Metro vanpools can apply for access to use the West Seattle low bridge at all times of day.

The Flip Your Trip campaign features a new partnership with King County Metro, as participants can receive their free rides on Metro’s Transit GO Ticket mobile app. Participants can redeem their initial sign up bonus by clicking on the new ‘Rewards’ button in the app menu, which will appear as 2,500 rewards points. Additional reward points can be earned by making transit and scooter/bike share trips. People who do not have smartphones can choose to receive an ORCA card and programme updates through community organisations, instead of using the Transit GO Ticket mobile app.

“We’re excited to find new ways to move more people away from getting stuck in their cars in traffic, and instead traveling by buses, boats and vanpool,” said Metro’s Mobility Division Director, Chris O’Claire. “Transit is also critical to making access to opportunity more equitable, and improving our air and water quality.”

SDOT and King County Metro are working together to increase West Seattle transit service. In mid-September 2021, SDOT announced that they would provide the funding needed for King County to increase Water Taxi services and to continue sailing seven days a week all winter long. Additionally, on 2 October 2021, King County Metro will increase bus service on West Seattle Routes 50, 60, 120 and RapidRide C Line thanks to SDOT funding from the 2020 voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure.