Downtown Seattle Accessible Map and Transit Guide
A guide to getting around downtown Seattle on Metro Transit for wheelchair users and those with other disabilities
Download the Accessible Downtown Seattle map. [.PDF 497KB] (revised 10/6/09) To read the map detail, increase the magnification. Tip: the map is too large to print on most printers. If you need only a portion of the map, change the magnification until the section you want will fill a standard sheet of legal or letter paper. Use the snapshot tool in Adobe Reader to take a "picture" of the section. Paste the picture into a word processing or graphics/photo software. Then, you can print it and save it for future reference.
Metro Transit has the "Accessible Downtown Seattle Map" available in printed form. You may pick one up at timetable kiosks or, send an e-mail to Access.CustomerService@kingcounty.gov - Please give your postal mailing address including ZIP code.
If your web browser does not have a viewer defined for PDF formatted files, please download the appropriate reader [external link], courtesy of Adobe.
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Getting Around Downtown
Seattle is a city of hills. Using public transportation and a variety of building elevators and escalators, you can plan trips to a number of downtown Seattle destinations that avoid the hills. When downtown office buildings are closed, Metro bus routes offer service up and down the hills.
North of University Street, travel in all directions is fairly easy because it’s relatively flat. South of University Street, streets and sidewalks become steep and hilly.
Most downtown sidewalks have curb ramps at the corners. In Pioneer Square, curb cuts are not as common. Also, this historic district, which dates from the turn of the century, has a variety of paving materials.
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Riding Public Transit
Getting around downtown Seattle is easiest on public transit. Metro buses, Sound Transit buses and Link light rail, the South Lake Union Streetcar and the Monorail are accessible. For Metro trip planning and questions, call Customer Information at 206-553-3000 (TTY Relay: 711). For Sound Transit trip information, call 1-888-889-6368 (TTY Relay: 711).
Third Avenue is the center of the downtown core and offers the most frequent bus service northbound and southbound. The transit tunnel under Third Avenue and Pine Street is also accessible.
East-west bus routes run on Pine, Pike, Union, Spring, Seneca, Madison, Marion, James and South Jackson streets.
Bus stops throughout downtown Seattle are marked by a yellow and white bus stop sign that lists the bus routes that stop there. Signs include bus schedules, fare information, a map and destination information.
Downtown bus stops are located about every two to four blocks. On Second, Third and Fourth avenues, buses serve alternating stops. Accessible bus stops are marked with the international access symbol. Sidewalks at some of the stops on east-west streets are very steep, and it may be difficult for wheelchair users to board the lift safely. It may be best to board or exit buses at a level stop on a north-south avenue.
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Fare information
Ride Free Area
Ride free in downtown Seattle from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The Ride Free Area extends from the north at Battery Street to South Jackson Street on the south, and from the east at Sixth Avenue to the waterfront on the west. Link light rail, the South Lake Union Streetcar and the Seattle Center Monorail are not included in the Ride Free Area.
When to pay
When boarding the bus, look at the sign on the farebox. It will tell you when to pay. You can use exact change or a pass.
Link light rail fares are paid before boarding the train. Riders buy a ticket from the ticket vending machine, or use a valid pass or valid ORCA card. Tap ORCA cards on the reader at the origin station before boarding and again at the destination station after leaving the train.
Regional Reduced Fare Permit
Metro and Sound Transit has a Regional Reduced Fare Permit that is available to senior citizens and people with disabilities. The permit is also valid for reduced fares on other transit systems and Washington State Ferries.
With a valid permit you pay a reduced fare to any Metro destination outside the downtown Ride Free Area. Or, you can also buy a monthly pass. With a pass you pay no additional fare to ride Metro.
To get application materials for a Regional Reduced Fare Permit, call Metro Customer Information at 206-553-3000 (TTY Relay: 711). Or, download a .PDF version.
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Riding Metro and Sound Transit Buses
All Metro and Sound Transit buses are accessible to people with mobility impairments. Older high-floor buses have a lift, while newer low-floor buses have a kneeling feature and a ramp.
The lift, ramp or kneeling feature can be used by anyone who has difficulty stepping onto a bus. This includes people with walkers, crutches, canes and other assistive devices as well as people using manual and power wheelchairs or scooters. All buses have two locations for wheelchair and scooter users. All mobility aids must be secured facing the front of the bus using the tie-down system on the bus. An optional personal restraint system (seatbelt and shoulder harness) is also available.
Buses have been designed to accommodate persons using mobility aids that meet the definition of a "common wheelchair," as contained in federal regulations:
Not all mobility aids fit on buses. Call customer service if you are unsure. For Metro, call Customer Information at 206-553-3000 (TTY Relay: 711). For Sound Transit, call 1-888-889-6368 (TTY Relay: 711).
Read more information about accessible buses.
Bus stop
- Wait near the bus stop sign. Signal the driver or make eye contact to make sure that he or she is aware that you want the lift or ramp on their bus.
- For safety reasons, the driver will deploy the lift or ramp only when adequate space by the front door is clear of other passengers and pedestrians. This means that other riders may get on and off the bus first.
Using the lift
- When getting on the bus, move about 5 feet away from the front door until the lift has stopped moving. Then, get on the lift either facing forward or backward. Boarding backward means you won’t have to turn around inside the bus to get into the securement area. Signal the driver when you are ready for the lift to move.
- For your safety, keep your mobility aid from moving while the lift is in motion: We ask that you set the brakes, turn off powered mobility aids and hold on to the handrails if possible (don’t let your arms extend beyond the handrails).
- If you are standing on the lift, hold on to a handrail and watch the overhead clearance as the lift goes through the doorway.
- If the driver is unable to accommodate you using the lift, or if a securement area is not available, the driver is required to radio for advice and let you know what he or she is told before leaving the bus stop.
Using the ramp and the kneeling feature
- When deploying the ramp, the driver will first lower, or "kneel," the front of the bus. You can ask the driver to kneel the bus, even if you don’t need the ramp.
- The slope of the ramp depends on the curb height and the slope of road at each bus stop. With a curb height of 6-8 inches, the ramp slope should range from nearly flat to 8 percent, the typical slope of a ramp into a building. If the ramp is too steep for you to use in your manual wheelchair, ask the driver to assist you. Help the driver by pushing yourself up the ramp as much as possible and by braking when going down the ramp.
- Be careful if you are using the ramp when it is wet. Handrails are located on bus doors rather than on the ramp.
On the bus…
- Priority seating for seniors and people with disabilities is at the front of the bus. If the seats are full and there isn’t a seat nearby, tell the driver that you need a priority seat due to your disability. The driver will ask other riders to move; if a seat isn’t made available, the driver can assist you to a nearby seat.
- Tell the driver if you need help securing your mobility aid or if you prefer to sit on a specific side of the bus. The driver can ask other passengers to move but cannot require anyone to change seats.
- Back into the securement area. Secure the safety belt to each side of the wheelchair. If you use a scooter, secure the third strap around the tiller/front wheel. An optional personal seatbelt is also available. If you or someone with you secures the mobility aid, the driver is still responsible for verifying that it is properly tied down.
- If you use the lift or ramp, please tell the driver when you are boarding where you will be getting off the bus. That way, the driver can position the bus correctly at that bus stop. Also, if the bus is crowded, this information helps the driver remember where you want off the bus.
Getting off the bus…
- If you use a wheelchair, signal the driver about a block before your stop. On newer buses, press the yellow pushbutton strip on the underside of the flip-up seats; the bell will ring twice. Or, pull the signal cord.
- Wait until the lift platform is all the way up to the floor of the bus or the ramp has completely unfolded before releasing the securement belts. If you need help, ask the driver to release them for you.
Link Light Rail
Getting on and off Link is easy. The trains stop at all stations, and the doors open and close automatically. Link cars are level with the platforms. There is no need to use a lift or ramp when using mobility devices. Riders using wheelchairs or scooters can roll directly into the wheelchair area without assistance. There is no personal restraint system on Link trains. There are priority seating areas for seniors and people with disabilities immediately inside each door.
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Rider assistance
We’re here to serve you, so call Metro Customer Information at 206-553-3000 (TTY Relay: 711) and Sound Transit at 1-888-889-6368 (TTY Relay: 711) during regular weekday business hours for information on:
If you have a visual disability, Metro can give you a bus identifier kit to tell drivers which bus you want. Stand near the bus stop sign (most are on square poles) and hold up the route number cards for the bus you need. The bus driver will tell you when your bus arrives.
For customers with visual or communication disabilities, special assistance cards are helpful. You can write down which bus stop you are going to and give the card to the driver when you get on the bus. The bus driver will return the card when the bus gets to your stop.
A Personal Care Attendant Regional Reduced Fare Permit is available for people with disabilities who travel with someone to assist them. The permit allows the attendant to ride without paying an additional fare.
Service animals ride on transit without charge.
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Transit Instruction
Metro and Sound Transit provides free transit instruction for seniors and people with disabilities. Our expert trainers have in-depth knowledge of the bus and train system. They know the issues facing people with disabilities and seniors.
One-on-one training is for people who want to travel one or more days a week, to and from a specific place, where and when buses operate.
For group travel orientation, join others in your senior center, residence, work site or class to attend two sessions: A general orientation, plus an escorted trip on Metro.
General system orientation and wheelchair lift training are also available. For more information, call Transit Instruction at 206-749-4242 (TTY Relay: 711).
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Turner Award
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) sponsors the George B. Turner Award, which honors a Metro bus driver for exceptional service to senior citizens and people with disabilities. Awards are based on commendations received at Metro’s Customer Assistance Office. For more information about PVA, please call 206-241-1843.
Metro Customer Service offices
Metro has two Customer Service Offices in downtown Seattle at:
Transit Tunnel
Westlake Station
Mezzanine, west end
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
King Street Center
201 S. Jackson St.
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Both locations sell bus passes and monthly stickers and have timetables for all Metro routes. People under 65 must buy their Regional Reduced Fare Permit at King Street Center.
Sound Transit
Customer Assistance Office address:
401 S. Jackson St.
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Telephone Assistance
Metro Customer Information 206-553-3000
Hearing Impaired TTY Relay: 711
Pass and Ticketbook Sales 206-624-PASS (206-624-7277}
Phone numbers for Customer Information, Pass and Ticketbook Sales, Lost and Found, and other services.
Sound Transit
Customer Information 1-888-889-6368
Hearing Impaired TTY Relay: 711
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