Via transforms Seattle’s public transport with on-demand ridesharing partnership

Via partnered with King County Metro and Sound Transit to launch one of North America’s most successful transit agency TNC partnerships.

In April 2019, Via partnered with King County Metro (Metro) and Sound Transit to launch what has quickly become one of North America’s most successful transit agency-Transportation Network Company (TNC) partnership services.

“Via to Transit” provides first- and last-mile solutions in difficult-to-serve in southeast Seattle and Tukwila. Riders use the service to connect to five transit hubs where they can board Sound Transit Link light rail or Metro buses. The service averages 900 rides per weekday, and continues to grow.

Since launch, “Via to Transit” has provided over 70,000 rides, enabling vital connections to buses and light rail in the service zone. Ridership is on-track to exceed 250,000 annual passengers. Even more impressively, average wait times have remained around 7-8 minutes; the TNC service provides a quality of service that exceeds most high-frequency bus routes. This pilot offers a blueprint for designing a successful TNC service that is cost-efficient, high quality, and seamlessly integrated into the broader transit network.