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Off the train, into a VW bus: Amazon helps fund free shuttle service for Bellevue light rail riders
Stepping off the light rail in downtown Bellevue, Wash., is about to come with a free ride.
Visit Bellevue announced this week that it’s launching a free electric shuttle pilot program on Aug. 3 to help riders on Sound Transit’s 2 line continue their journey to other downtown destinations.
The new service is funded by Amazon and Visit Bellevue in partnership with Circuit, the City of Bellevue and Sound Transit. The pilot will run through December as an extension of the BellHop program, an on-demand electric shuttle service that started in the city in 2023.
The shuttle program will service riders at Bellevue’s downtown light rail station with two Volkswagen ID. BUZZ electric vans. Passengers can board at a designated pickup spot and request a drop-off location within the roughly 4-mile service area — no reservation or mobile app is required.
Riders looking to return to the light rail station can use the BellHop service by booking an on-demand ride via the Ride Circuit app.
Amazon employs roughly 14,000 corporate workers in Bellevue. The opening this spring of the Link light rail Crosslake Connection across Lake Washington was viewed as a vital new transportation option for tech workers commuting between Seattle and Eastside campuses.
“We see tremendous value in programs that improve access to public transit, support sustainable mobility, and connect people with local businesses and destinations,” Keri Pravitz, manager of Community Engagement for Amazon in Bellevue, said in a statement.
The new shuttle will operate Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. See a map of the service area below.
