Translate
Skyway Mobility
Creating mobility solutions in the Skyway community
As part of the 2021-2022 King County budget, funds are available for Metro to examine expanding mobility solutions in Skyway.
To implement mobility solutions in the Skyway community, King County Metro (Metro) is working with the King County Department of Local Services (DLS), other Skyway community organizations, and partners to deliver innovative transportation services and necessary safety improvements for people to connect to transit.
Metro is continuing to strengthen our long-term partnership with the Skyway community. Metro wants to make tangible and community-informed investments in Skyway and ensure that our engagement is inclusive and community-centered since the actions we take will have direct impact on Skyway community mobility options.
In this section
Mobility solutions
The following mobility projects were highlighted by the Skyway community in previous engagement efforts as critical mobility needs. Metro has committed to providing $6 million in community-informed mobility investments in Skyway, to be implemented starting in Fall 2021.
Via to Transit
In August 2021, Metro expanded Via to Transit, a pilot, on-demand mobility service in Skyway, Rainier Beach, Othello, Renton Highlands, and Tukwila. Via to Transit provides better connections to buses, trains, parks, libraries and more for people who live, work, and go to school in the service areas.
Riders can request an on-demand ride using the Via app or by calling the Via call center (206-258-7739). Passengers can get picked up steps from their front doors, and travel to/from the following places within the Rainier Beach/Skyway service area without needing a car:
- Rainier Beach Link light rail Station
- Kubota Garden
- Skyway Library
- Renton Transit Center
Via to Transit in Rainier Beach/Skyway is available Monday–Saturday 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Skyway Community Van
King County Metro and the Department of Local Services (DLS) have introduced the Community Van shared ride service to the Skyway community.
Community Van delivers local shared trips requested by the community, driven by volunteers, and scheduled by a Community Van Coordinator to meet community travel needs.
To find out how to schedule a trip, contact Kahdijah Jackson, Skyway Community Van Coordinator, by phone at 206-477-7660 or by email at kajackson@kingcounty.gov.
ORCA Youth Cards & Transit Education
Metro’s Youth Program is working to provide Skyway students with access to transit, and the tools to ride confidently and safely through classroom workshops and ongoing youth engagement.
Students at Renton High School, Talley High School, and 8th graders at Dimmitt Middle School, can pick up ORCA Youth cards at their school front office. ORCA passes will be good from Sept 1 2021–Aug 31, 2022.
Project updates:
- Students can participate in Metro’s survey to provide feedback on the program. Contact information can also be provided if students wish to participate in future youth focus groups and activities coming to the Skyway area.
- For students who want more tips about riding transit safely, please see our Back to School blog post.
For inquiries related to ORCA passes or to get involved with Metro’s youth programming, please contact Dani Hurula, Youth Program Manager, by email at dhurula@kingcounty.gov
Safety improvements
Metro is partnering with the Washington State Department of Transporation (WSDOT) to build a sidewalk on Washington State Route SR900 (Martin Luther King Jr. Way S) north of 68th Avenue South for safer access to northbound Metro routes 101 and 102. The sidewalk is expected to be constructed by late 2022.
Partnership with Urban Family
Metro has partnered with Skyway community-based organization, Urban Family, to conduct inclusive outreach and engagement on behalf of King County departments.
Contact information
Contact us
Metro Community Engagement
haveasay@kingcounty.gov
(206) 263-1939