Metro outlines Community Van, MetroFlex and vanpool plans as flexible-services strategy

King County Metro presented an overview of its flexible-services portfolio — Community Van, MetroFlex on‑demand service, Vanpool and Vanshare — to the Regional Transit Committee on Sept. 17, describing how the programs complement fixed-route transit in lower-density areas.

"These services are serving niche portions of the population where a fixed route or a big bus doesn't always make sense," Chris O'Clair, Metro's Mobility Division Director, said. She told the committee Metro's flexible services together provide more than 2 million rides annually across programs and are designed to advance equity, sustainability and safety while connecting riders to the broader network.

Community Van is a volunteer-driven trip service used largely for medical, grocery and social trips, staff said. The program is active in 18 service areas covering 10 jurisdictions, with local Community Transportation Coordinators (CTCs) that partner with organizations including University of Washington Bothell, Hopelink, the City of Algona, the City of Kirkland and others. Metro staff reported nearly 500 approved volunteer drivers and year‑over‑year trip growth of 41% (boardings trending up 31%), with roughly half of Community Van users identified as seniors.

MetroFlex is an on‑demand, boundary-defined microtransit product with app and call-in booking; staff said it averages more than 1,000 rides on an average weekday and that hubs, light-rail stations, shopping and schools are common destinations. Planning lead Brian Henry said Metro uses a three‑factor evaluation for pilots — equity, productivity and efficiency — balanced with an area's fixed-route context to decide whether pilots proceed or scale.

The Vanpool and Vanshare programs provide commuter options where fixed-route commutes are impractical. Metro reported nearly 1,000 vans in the vanpool program, with 945 seven‑passenger vans composing about 95% of the fleet. Staff said the average vanpool commute is about 47 miles round trip and groups average more than five riders, reducing multiple single-occupant car trips.

Staff discussed funding and pilots: some new pilots are grant-funded (including an Overlake pilot started this week and planned first/last-mile pilots for Auburn and Federal Way), while others rely on Metro or jurisdictional funding. O'Clair said King County maintains a flexible-services fund (she cited roughly $10 million across flexible services) and that program and pilot status follows Metro's service guidelines adopted in 2021. Committee members asked about timelines, electrification, outreach to seniors and youth, and coordination with cities; staff said they will continue to work with jurisdictions and share materials for local outreach and will bring performance results back to the committee.

Ending note: Metro staff said they will continue to evaluate pilots using equity and productivity criteria, pursue electrification pilots and seek jurisdictional partnerships to scale services and improve customer experience.