About the study:
This report examines public transit experiences across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, highlighting persistent safety, access, and equity challenges despite ongoing improvements by WSDOT, SDOT, and local transit partners. Riders — particularly women, elders, and newly immigrated individuals — continue to face poorly lit stops, long or unsafe walking routes, limited emergency supports, and infrastructure gaps such as missing sidewalks, steep terrain, or inadequate shelters. Transit service is uneven: South King County, Eastside, and rural or isolated neighborhoods experience infrequent service, long waits, and limited early-morning or weekend options, disproportionately affecting mobility-impaired and limited-English-proficiency riders.
Differences in data availability and community engagement mechanisms across jurisdictions affect both agency planning and rider advocacy. Seattle and SDOT provide robust, transparent datasets and clear engagement pathways, while other areas operate with fewer
resources, limiting visibility into transportation planning. Language and cultural barriers further restrict access, as many recent immigrants report confusion about fares, transfers, and trip planning, highlighting the need for multilingual signage, clearer maps, and community navigators.
Unreliable service and unclear transfer policies contribute to missed appointments, work delays, and social isolation, underscoring the importance of targeted, equity-focused investments to ensure transit is safe, accessible, and dependable across the three counties.
Participants expressed a strong desire to engage in transportation justice initiatives and champion their community once made aware of resources and pathways for representation. While there are grants and avenues for community-driven improvements, transportation agencies can improve visibility and awareness in addition to providing application support to increase equitable leveraging.
Click here to read the full report.