Pierce Transit providing free rides to people traveling to/from vaccination appointments

Starting Wednesday, March 31, 2022 Pierce Transit will provide free bus rides to passengers traveling to or from COVID-19 vaccination appointments along local bus routes, or to volunteer at a vaccination clinic. The free rides include travel to mass vaccination sites as well as other immunization locations, such as pharmacies.

The free round-trip will be available throughout the day of a vaccination for passengers who confirm they have an appointment, typically in the form of a printed confirmation, email, text or verbal confirmation. Free rides will also be available to vaccination site volunteers who provide written or verbal confirmation they are working at a vaccination clinic that day.

“This is a great way to reduce barriers to underserved populations that need access to transportation to reach their vaccination appointment,” said Pierce Transit CEO Sue Dreier. “It’s also a key way to continue moving our community forward toward a post-pandemic future.”

Pierce Transit is working in cooperation with the State Department of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination Command and Coordination Center to provide this community service.

For help with trip planning, contact Pierce Transit’s Customer Service office at 253.581.8000 (option 1, then option 1 again), use Pierce Transit’s online Trip Planner or download the Transit app.

Pierce Transit continues to provide additional health and safety measures onboard buses, such as daily to several-times-daily vehicle disinfecting, limited number of passengers on buses and separation of passengers onboard. Masks are required onboard, and are provided if a rider does not have one.

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Trip Planner Help

Trip Planner Tips - Entering Locations

To create a trip plan you need to enter both a starting location (origin) and an ending location (destination). For information about stops, schedules, or service at a specific location, you only need to enter one location.

The Trip Planner recognizes most street intersections and addresses as well as many landmarks in Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties. If what you entered is not immediately recognized, the Trip Planner will offer you a list of options. You can choose one of the options, but if your intended location is not there, select the "Revise Original Entries" link to return to the entry page and change the entries you have already made.

Addresses

You don't need to type in the city along with the address. The Trip Planner shows the possible city names as options if needed. City names are based on zip codes.
You don't need to type in St., Street, Ave., or Avenue, or similar street types. The Trip Planner shows the possible alternatives as options if needed. (Example: type 110 Jones instead of 110 Jones Boulevard.)
You don't need to type in the directional designations for streets, but if a direction name is part of a street name, you should include it. (Example: type 1000 Main instead of 1000 S Main. But type 1000 West Viewmont for 1000 West Viewmont Way W.)
Some streets and addresses are unknown to the Trip Planner. You may need to enter another nearby location, such as an intersection or a landmark.
You should not enter the suite number or apartment number. Just the house number and street name (Example: type in 401 Broadway instead of 401 Broadway Avenue Suite 800).

Intersections

The "&" symbol is the only character used between two street names to show an intersection. (Examples: 1st & B, James & Madison)
You don't need to type in the city. The Trip Planner shows the possible city names as options if needed. City names are based on zip codes.
You don't need to type in St., Street, Ave., or Avenue, or similar street types. The Trip Planner shows the possible alternatives as options if needed. (Example: type Conifer & Jones instead of Conifer Circle & Jones Boulevard.)
You don't need to type in the directional designations for streets, but if a direction name is part of a street name, you should include it. (Example: type 3rd & Main instead of 3rd S & S Main. But type 34th & West Viewmont for 34th W & West Viewmont Way W.)
Some streets are unknown to the Trip Planner. You may need to enter another nearby intersection or a landmark.

Landmarks

Government Sites: Pierce County Health Dept, Pierce Co Sheriffs Office, Tacoma City Hall

Major Commercial Sites: Tacoma Mall, Sheraton Hotel

Transportation Facilities: Sea-Tac Airport, Greyhound Bus Depot

Schools & Colleges: Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Community College

Sports & Leisure: Cheney Stadium, Pt Defiance Zoo

Medical Facilities: Group Health, Tacoma General Hospital