Celebrating Older Americans Month

May is Older Americans Month (OAM), a month-long celebration that recognizes the contributions of older adults to society and encourages Americans to celebrate the seniors in their lives. The 2023 theme is Aging Unbound, which offers an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and discuss how communities can combat stereotypes. 

“Older Americans are the pillars of our community, and we owe it to them to value their wisdom, celebrate their contributions, and champion their well-being,” said President Biden in a recent White House proclamation. “To older Americans across this Nation, we will always support you.”

People ages 65 and older make up more than 14.4% of the population of Snohomish County, and many are regular Community Transit riders. Many older adults take transit when seeking flexible, affordable, and accessible trip options.

To help celebrate this month, Community Transit partnered with the Lynnwood Senior Center to help older residents learn about transit services in the area. The event included an on-board experience and a field trip to the Lynnwood Transit Center.

“This event provided an exciting opportunity to connect seniors to our services,” said Field Marketing & Business Development Specialist Stacey Gunnerson, who helped run the event. “Our goal was to help them gain confidence in taking a trip and provide the necessary tools to help expand their travel options. We got lots of feedback from participants about how this event helped them feel more confident.” 

If you missed it, you can join us on Wednesday, June 14 at the Stilly Valley Center in Arlington for their Health & Wellness Resource Fair. Our team will have a busload of info to help older adults connect to their community, plus some freebies to bring home.

We’ve also highlighted some of our transit options that help serve older adults below. 

Travel Training

Travel Training is a free resource for anyone who needs a little extra help learning to ride local transit. Travel Trainers guide riders through all parts of their journey, including using the Community Transit website to plan a trip. Travel Training can last from one hour to several sessions — as long as is needed for a rider to feel safe and confident traveling alone. 

Reduced fares for riders 65 and older

Riders 65 and older qualify for a Senior Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP), which gives older adults an ORCA card for discounted fares on regional transit options.

The ORCA Senior RRFP is free, but requires a completed application and proof of age. Learn more and apply at myORCA.com. 

Accessible buses

All Community Transit buses have low floors and can be raised or lowered for boarding. Every bus is equipped with a ramp and drivers are trained to assist people in boarding and securing their mobility devices.

DART Paratransit  

DART paratransit is an option for riders who can’t use fixed-route bus services due to a disability. To qualify, riders must complete an application and an in-person rider assessment interview. Explore all of Community Transit’s accessible service options online. 

Zip Alderwood Shuttle

In addition to fixed-route bus services, Community Transit is now offering Zip Alderwood Shuttle, an on-demand service for travel anywhere within our Alderwood service area for the same price as our local bus fare. Zip riders can take the shuttle to the Alderwood Mall, movie theaters, and rec center. The shuttle also helps riders run errands, get to work, and connect to bus routes and the Lynnwood Transit Center. Zip has vehicles that are ADA accessible for riders who use a mobility device. Please make sure you include that you need an accessible vehicle when you request your trip. Our trained drivers will help secure wheelchairs and other mobility devices when needed.