The Seattle Downtown Circulator Bus is a transportation lifeblood for people living on low incomes and those accessing community services in the downtown Seattle core.

The Circulator was launched in 2012 by Solid Ground Transportation (SGT) to help ameliorate the loss of the Ride Free Zone in downtown Seattle. Supported by King County Metro with funding from the City, the Circulator is a fixed-route, 7-stop bus alternative that provides free rides to area residents and people who receive health and human services downtown.

Two buses, one 23-passenger and one 19-passenger vehicle, run a fixed 4.5-mile route. The seven stops are located near services such as Harborview Medical Center, Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC), Social Security Administration, Urban Rest Stop and more.

“We’ve been providing accessible transportation to help people remain in their homes and connected to their community for more than 30 years. We are grateful for our long partnership with King County Metro and look forward to learning how the Circulator can be even more responsive to community needs.” -Kari Ware, SGT Director

The buses operate Monday through Friday, with the first bus leaving Harborview at 7am and driving in a clockwise route through town. The last bus leaves Harborview at 4pm. Buses arrive at each stop approximately every 25 to 30 minutes. Most stops are identified by a sticker affixed to the standard Metro bus stop signs. The Circulator also makes a couple of stops at Shuttle Only zones on 1st Ave at Pine and Bell. Last year, the Circulator provided over 61,000 rides.

Currently, Solid Ground is surveying Circulator riders to learn more about how they use the service and how we can improve transportation in the downtown core for this underserved population.

“We’ve been providing accessible transportation to help people remain in their homes and connected to their community for more than 30 years,” says Kari Ware, SGT Director. “We are grateful for our long partnership with King County Metro and look forward to learning how the Circulator can be even more responsive to community needs.”

If you are a Circulator rider, you can download the Circulator Comment Card, print  and fill it out, and mail it to Solid Ground Transportation (SGT), 1501 North 45th Street, Seattle, WA 98103.