This new on-demand transit service in Puyallup will bring you places that buses don’t
There’s a new mode of transportation in the city of Puyallup.
Pierce Transit launched the Puyallup Runner Nov. 14. The on-demand transit service brings passengers to places that are not easily accessible by bus, according to a news release from Pierce Transit.
Passengers can book a trip through the Pierce Transit Runner app or by calling 253-581-8000 (press option 4). A van will arrive in about 15 minutes and bring the passenger to their destination. Passengers can request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
The runner operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. It costs $2 for adults and $1 for those with discounted fares. It’s free for youth 18 and under. Passengers can use their ORCA card, the Transit app or a paper pass. Cash is not accepted.
Service pets are permitted on board. The runner cannot accommodate groups larger than four people. Those with children must bring a car seat. Bikes and strollers are permitted on board if there is space.
The zone the runner operates in includes downtown Puyallup and parts of South Hill. The runner passes through the Puyallup Station, South Hill Park and Ride and the South Hill Mall Transit Center. Passengers can get dropped off at one of the transit hubs or at their final destination, if it’s in the zone.
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The runner will not run on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.
Pierce Transit Planning Manager Tina Lee said two runners will roam around Puyallup each day. The agency might decide to add another van if trip times start to get longer, she said.
The runner can help bring residents to doctor appointments and school, among other places.
“These on-demand services allow us to … provide transit equity and make sure we’re reaching all the populations in our service area,” Lee said.
Pierce Transit spokesperson Rebecca Japhet said the agency received a $776,000 state transportation grant. It costs about $484,000 per year to run the service. The grant will almost fully cover the service for two years, and Pierce Transit will cover the remaining $192,000, Japhet said.
The agency also applied for a second grant that the state Legislature has yet to approve.
Lee said the agency had gotten requests for service in parts of the Puyallup area.
“When we got those grant funds, it was always on our radar as an area that might do well with this type of microtransit,” she said.
Pierce Transit also has runners for Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Spanaway, the Tacoma Tideflats and Ruston.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with additional information from Pierce Transit about how the Puyallup Runner service is being funded.
This story was originally published November 20, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
