Commute Alternatives

Alternatives to driving alone include bicycling, carpooling, riding the bus, vanpooling, and walking. Employees using these alternatives can also take advantage of the SAFE RIDE program so you don't have to worry about getting home if youhave an emergency or a sudden schedule change. Simply contact our Employee Transportation Coordinator!

Also, if you work a compressed schedule or telework to eliminate a regular commute trip, that counts too! More information is below regarding these commute options:

• Bicycling
• Compressed Schedule
• Riding the Bus
• Tacoma Link Light Rail
• Teleworking
• Vanpooling

Bicycling

If you live close enough, you can bicycle to work! There are bike racks located throughout the campus. Showers are also located on the third floor of GWP.

Compressed Schedule

Working a compressed workweek may also be an option for you depending on your particular position and the needs of your department. The most common compressed schedule for full-time employees is a 4/10 schedule, and a number of variations exist for part-time employees.

Working a compressed workweek requires the approval of your supervisor.

Riding the Bus

Use your FlexPass on Pierce Transit buses providing express service to Olympia, Lacey and the SR 512 Park and Ride on routes 601X, 603X, 605X and 620X. (FlexPass is not valid on the Intercity Transit buses that serve these routes.) Four Sound Transit Express routes serve the SR 512 Park and Ride and Downtown Seattle. Route 586 runs directly from the Tacoma Dome Station to UW Seattle.

For route information, contact the transit agency directly:

Tacoma Link Light Rail

The Tacoma Link Light Rail is the newest FREE way to get through downtown Tacoma! The Link Light Rail travels 1.6 miles from the Tacoma Dome Station to the Theater District on 9th and Commerce, with 5 stops in between - including one right in front of campus on Pacific Avenue. The trains are scheduled to arrive every 10 minutes and have right-of-way to traffic. The trains will operate 365 days of the year during these hours:

Teleworking

Depending on the nature of your work and the needs of your department, teleworking could be a commute alternative if it eliminates a commute trip on regularly scheduled workday.

Teleworking requires approval from your supervisor.

Vanpooling

If you commute to UW Tacoma and live at least 10 miles away from the campus, give vanpooling a try. A vanpool is a prearranged group of 5-15 people who share their commute by using a vanpool vehicle owned, maintained and insured by Pierce Transit. Vanpool passengers pay a low monthly fare based on daily round trip mileage and the number of riders in the van. The UWT-Pass covers $40 of your monthly vanpool fare! These fares cover all the costs of operating the vanpool, including fuel, insurance and maintenance.

Each vanpool must have a primary driver and at least one back-up driver. Drivers must be pre-approved by Pierce Transit before operating the vanpool vehicle. Each vanpool must also have a bookkeeper, someone who is willing to collect the fares and enusre timely completion and submittal of revenue and forms to Pierce Transit.

If you need help finding potential vanpool or carpool partners, check out the Rideshare Ridematch Program!

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