Ride Connection is a private,

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

that provides fixed bus route and

paratransit Paratransit (also community transport in the United Kingdom, or intermediate public transport) is a type of public transport service that supplements fixed-route mass transit by providing individualized rides without fixed routes or timetables. P ...

services in the

Portland metropolitan area The Portland metropolitan area is a metropolitan area, metro area with its urban area, core in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington (state), Washington. It has 5 principal cities, the largest being Portland, Oregon. The U.S. Office of Man ...

in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

. It was founded as Volunteer Transport, Inc. on May 26, 1988.

History

On May 26, 1988, Volunteer Transport, Inc. (VTI) was established to provide accessible transportation for older adults and people with disabilities in the Portland metropolitan area. In 1990, it began partnering with TriMet to offer ADA-compliant paratransit services, enhancing accessibility for those unable to use fixed-route transit.

Paratransit services

Ride Connection provides

services to anyone over the age of 60 or with a

disability Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be Cognitive disability, cognitive, Developmental disability, d ...

, and people with

low income Poverty is a state or condition in which an individual lacks the financial resources and essentials for a basic standard of living. Poverty can have diverse Biophysical environmen ...

. It complements

TriMet The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) is a Transit district, transit agency that serves most of the Oregon part of the Portland metropolitan area. Created in 1969 by the Oregon Legislative Assembly, Oregon legi ...

's LIFT.

Fixed-route networks

Ride Connection refers to its fixed

bus route A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a motor vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van, but fewer than the average rail transport. It is most commonly used i ...

services as "Community Connectors". As of 2024, it operates eight Community Connectors in communities mostly within Washington County. Riders may schedule an off-route pick up (within mile of the route) by calling in. Ride Connection also partners with the Tillamook County Transportation District by subsidizing a Wave bus route between

Banks A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. As banks ...

, North Plains, and Portland. All services are fare free.

GroveLink

GroveLink serves Forest Grove with two routes: West Loop and East Loop. A third, less-frequent route called the Employment Loop operates in the early mornings and early afternoons. GroveLink originated from a study that realized a need for a more local service than TriMet bus route 57–TV Highway/Forest Grove, which had operated as the only public transit service within Forest Grove with a single route along Pacific Avenue (

Oregon Route 8 Oregon Route 8, also known as Oregon Highway 8, is an Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oreg ...

) eastward to Hillsboro and Beaverton. GroveLink began operating on August 19, 2013.

North Hillsboro Link

The North Hillsboro Link began operating on November 16, 2015.

Tualatin Shuttle

The Tualatin Shuttle serves Tualatin with three, color-designated routes, all of which connect at the Tualatin WES station, served by TriMet's

WES Commuter Rail The Westside Express Service (WES) is a commuter rail line serving parts of the Portland metropolitan area's Washington County, Oregon, Washington and Clackamas County, Oregon, Clackamas counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Owned by TriMet and ...

. The Tualatin Shuttle began as the "Tualatin Employment Shuttle", established by the Tualatin Chamber of Commerce in 1997. Ride Connection took over its operations on October 1, 2014. The Blue Line operates a loop route west of the WES station within neighborhoods surrounding Herman Road. The Red Line operates another loop route south and east of the WES station with stops at the Tualatin Library and

Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center, formerly Legacy Meridian Park Hospital, is an acute care hospital in Tualatin, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1973, it is operated by Legacy Health. The facility is licensed for 150 beds, but operates only 12 ...

. In September 2021, Ride Connection introduced a third route that runs from Bridgeport Village, the WES station, Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center, and Borland Free Clinic. Service operates from Monday to Friday in coordination with WES train arrivals.

Bethany Link

Bethany Link began operating on October 14, 2024, connecting TriMet's Sunset Transit Center (and

MAX Light Rail The Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) is a light rail system serving the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon. Owned and operated by TriMet, it consists of five lines connecting the Neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon, six sectio ...

station) with the Bethany area and

Portland Community College Portland Community College (PCC) is a public community college in Portland, Oregon. It is the largest post-secondary institution in the state and serves residents in the five-county area of Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Colu ...

's Rock Creek campus via Cedar Mill. It operates Mondays to Fridays.

References

External links

* {{Portland Transit Transit agencies in Oregon Transportation in Portland, Oregon Non-profit organizations based in Oregon