Ride Connection is a private,

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

that provides fixed bus route and

paratransit Paratransit is the term used in North America, also known by other names such as community transport ( UK) for transportation services that supplement fixed-route mass transit by providing individualized rides without fixed routes or timetables. ...

services in the

Portland metropolitan area The Portland metropolitan area is a metro area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington centered on the principal city of Portland, Oregon. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) identifies it as the Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro ...

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 sove ...

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idah ...

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

History

Volunteer Transport, Inc. (VTI) was founded on May 26, 1988.

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, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, s ...

, and people with

low income Poverty is the state of having few material possessions or little

income

. It complements

TriMet TriMet, formally known as the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, is a public agency that operates public transport, mass transit in a Transportation in Portland, Oregon, region that spans most of the Portland metropolit ...

'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 road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for ...

services as "Community Connectors". As of 2021, it operates five separate 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 The Tillamook County Transportation District (TCTD), branded as The Wave, is a provider of local and intercity bus transportation services in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. The district was created by the county, with borders contiguous ...

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. Because ...

, North Plains, and Portland. All services are free to use. In May 2021, Ride Connection expanded its services in Washington County.

GroveLink

GroveLink serves

Forest Grove A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

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 discovered 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 state highway which serves the western suburbs of Portland. The road is locally known as Canyon Road and Tualatin Valley Highway, and travels through the center of the Tualatin Vall ...

) eastward to Hillsboro and Beaverton. It 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 Tualatin may refer to: Places Oregon, United States * Tualatin, Oregon, a city in the Tualatin Valley * Tualatin Academy, a building and former school in Forest Grove * Tuality Community Hospital, a hospital in Hillsboro * Tualatin Mountains, a ...

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 part of the Portland metropolitan area's Washington County and a small portion of Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Owned by TriMet and operated by Portland & Weste ...

. 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 ...

. In September 2021, Ride Connection introduced a third route that runs from

Bridgeport Village Bridgeport Village is a lifestyle center located in Tualatin and Tigard, Oregon, United States, operated by CenterCal Properties. The center opened on May 19, 2005 and is located in one of the Portland metropolitan area's most affluent areas. ...

, the WES station, Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center, and Borland Free Clinic. Service operates from Monday to Friday in coordination with WES train arrivals.

References

External links

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