Enhancing Cross-County Travel: Addressing Barriers and Fostering Mobility Freedom

Cross-county travel restrictions present a significant challenge for transportation service providers and community end-users, leaving unmet needs and hindered mobility freedom. Recognizing this issue, the North King County Mobility Coalition and Hopelink’s Mobility Management department, partnered with University of Washington Evans School Consultants to address this issue. We embarked on a five-month research study to identify the limitations faced by community end-users and the barriers that prevent transportation service providers from addressing these cross-border needs. Through a literature review, interviews, and careful analysis, they have shed light on the challenges and devised priority recommendations to alleviate these barriers.

To gain a holistic understanding of the cross-county travel issue, the Evans School Consultants conducted a literature review and engaged in interviews with various providers and community members. The findings revealed a range of barriers faced by both transportation service providers and community end-users.

Challenges for Transportation Service Providers:

• Not Enough or Inconsistent Funding
• Reduced Staffing and Program Capacity
• Lack of Program Sustainability
• Incompatible Technology
• Lack of Cross-Coordination of Policies and Procedures

Challenges for Community End-Users:

• Mistreatment by Transportation Drivers
• Long Transfer Wait Times
• Not Qualifying for Paratransit Services
• Lack of Accessible Infrastructure
• Lack of Communication from Transportation Providers

In response to these challenges, the Evans School Consultants have outlined priority recommendations aimed at reducing the barriers and improving cross-county travel for both transportation service providers and community end-users. These recommendations include:

• Improve Training and Driver Education
• Create Interlocal Agreements for Cross-border Services and Aggregated Resources
• Create an Official Structure in Cross-Border Travel
• Engage in State Legislative Activities
• Improve Disability Certification Process
• Population- or Trip-Specific Funding
• Collaboration for Ridership Equity

To read the full report click here.

Next Steps

Next, take an active role in supporting and promoting our mission. Whether it's advocating for our cause, championing our services, or endorsing our efforts in the public domain, your voice carries significant weight and can drive positive change.

By prioritizing the findings from our research report, we can pave the way for a more successful, sustainable, and impactful future. Together, let's seize this opportunity and drive positive change that will shape mobility freedom in North King County for the years to come. Contact the North King County Mobility Coordinator (see below for contact info) to get involved.

To stay current on our work in North King County, sign up for our weekly newsletter and attend one of our bimonthly meetings via Zoom. 

For questions or comments, please contact Julio Perez, North King County Mobility Coordinator, at (425) 943-6730 or Jperez@hopelink.org.