During our community conversation on transportation needs, partners flagged that cost-related barriers to transportation further exacerbate COVID-19 health inequities. Resources like gas vouchers, free or reduced-cost Lyft rides, and insurance-based coverage options are available to those who need them. Consult the resource list below for free or low-cost transportation options for those seeking vaccination.
Lyft
Individuals seeking transportation to and from a vaccine appointment can request a free or discounted ride through LyftUp, a Lyft program aiming to increase access to vaccinations. LyftUp allows individuals to send or receive a Lyft ride and provides community grants to reduce transportation barriers.
Washington 2-1-1
Anyone in Washington state may dial 2-1-1 to request transportation resources. WA 2-1-1 is a confidential community service that can connect people to services like utility assistance, food, transportation, housing, health, childcare, and more. Callers will speak to a trained specialist who can provide information about resources local to the caller’s area.
Apple Health (Medicaid) Transportation Brokers
The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) offers non-emergency transportation coverage for eligible clients. Depending on the need, regional transportation brokers can help individuals across Washington get to vaccination or other medical appointments through public transit, gas vouchers, mileage reimbursement, taxis, ferries, or wheelchair vans and accessible vehicles. To identify the transportation broker assigned to your area, consult this transportation broker map or locate your county on the HCA website. Please note that the Hopelink resource on the transportation broker map serving King and Snohomish County is no longer active. Those seeking transportation assistance in these counties can visit www.FindARide.org.
Regionally Specific Resources
Communities throughout Washington state have developed a variety of regionally specific transportation resources to meet their unique needs. The DOH Vaccine Transportation Resources document provides details and contact information for a variety of these services based on your county.
In Eastern Washington, People for People provides fare-free transportation options for seniors, individuals with disabilities and the general public. Likewise, Special Mobility Services offers fuel vouchers and accompanied or unaccompanied bus or taxi rides to individuals in this region.
For those located in Southwest Washington, Community in Motion provides free rides to individuals with vaccine appointments. Specific to their associated city or county, RiverCities Transit, Lower Columbia Community Action Plan (CAP) and Mount Adams Transportation Service (MATS) provide free or low-cost transportation options for vaccine appointments.
In Western Washington, FindARide.org offers a variety of transportation resources specifically for low-income individuals in Seattle, Bellevue, and King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Additional county-specific, low-cost transportation resources can be accessed through King County Community Van, The ORCA Card program, Sound Transit, Pacific County Transit, Coastal Community Action Plan (CCAP), Pierce Transit, and Around the Sound in partnership with Tacoma Pierce County Health Department.
To learn more about the resources mentioned above, consult the DOH Vaccine Transportation Resources document. As always, if you know of additional transportation resources not included in this document, please reach out to a DH team member so that we can share new resources widely.