Spanaway Runner

Fare Amendment Proposal Update

On February 13, 2023, Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners approved the fare amendment proposal of adopting the ORCA LIFT program. To learn more about how you can apply for ORCA LIFT visit here: ORCA LIFT

Effective April 1, 2023, Pierce Transit will accept ORCA LIFT adult fare payment on bus and Runner services.

Service Changes to Improve Your Ride

Now that our Runner on-demand service is established in four zones, the Planning team is making some upgrades to the services based on ridership data, program performance and customer feedback. The changes will help riders better plan their multimodal trips, successfully connect with our fixed route service and more efficiently share trips with other passengers. Here is a summary of the improvements:

Ride Pooling: Later this Spring, Pierce Transit will be testing shared or “pooled” rides for Ruston, Tideflats, and Spanaway Runners. This will help reduce rider wait times and make more efficient use of available vehicles. Trips will follow the most direct route that accommodates all riders’ destinations.

Zone-Based Rides: Spanaway Runner riders must request trips that either start or end in the designated zone. Riders are able to request trips to or from transit hubs up to 2 miles outside the zone (including the SR-512 Park & Ride), except in Tacoma’s South End neighborhood or other areas west of I-5 which are well-served by bus.

Transit App Integration: Starting later this year, riders will be able to plan Runner trips using the Transit app. This will allow for multimodal trip planning, such as taking Runner to a bus stop or transit hub, or biking to a Runner zone to get picked up. Riders can pay Runner fare using an ORCA card or Transit's mobile ticketing option.

Runner continues to gain popularity as a first and last mile connector to certain transit centers, bus stops and regional hubs like Tacoma Dome Station. This “feeder service” provides an easy, on-demand way for more people to get on board with transit.

What is the Pierce Transit Spanaway Runner?

The Spanaway Runner provides on-demand transportation for the public, connecting students, workers, seniors and those with limited mobility to anywhere within the Spanaway Runner zone (shown in the map below). Riders can also access community resources, appointments, school, work and transit hubs up to 2 miles outside the zone, provided that the trip either starts or ends within the specified Spanaway Runner zone.

The suburban sprawl and rural properties in these areas do not support full-fledged bus service, which makes it difficult for residents to get where they need to go. Runner uses smaller, wheelchair-accessible vehicles to provide trips when and where needed, and to make it easier to reach local and regional transit options.

Things to remember:
Cash fares cannot be accepted on-board; load cash onto your ORCA E-Purse at ticket vending machines or participating ORCA retail locations. You may use the Goin app or call 253.270.1340 to book a ride. Vehicles may also be flagged down for a ride. Service animals are welcome on board but we cannot accommodate pets. The service is open to anyone but is not designed to accommodate large groups. When booking your trip for more than one person, remember to specify how many people are riding together in your group. This is a pilot project and service may be limited especially at peak times and when events are happening in the zone.

Spanaway Runner service will not operate on the following holidays:

New Year's Day
Memorial Day
July 4th
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

How do I get a ride?

Find travel options and plan your trip from the Transit App (coming soon)
Book trips using your smart phone by downloading the Goin App
If you don’t have a smart phone, you can call 253.581.8000 to schedule your trip.

Hours of Operation:

7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily

What does it cost to ride and how do I pay?

Pierce Transit Runner has the same fare as riding a Pierce Transit bus:

$2.00 for an adult
$1.00 for those showing a Regional Reduced Fare Permit or paying with an ORCA LIFT card (beginning April 1, 2023).
FREE for Youth riders 18 and younger (must show Youth ORCA card or valid student ID).

Drivers are unable to accept cash on-board. To pay with cash, visit one of the many ORCA retail locations or ticket vending machines to convert your cash to ORCA E-Purse value. For more information on buying or using and ORCA card, visit myorca.com.

There are three ways to pay:

Use Transit app with mobile fare of your choice (One Ride Ticket, All Day Pass or 30 Day Pass)
Tap your valid ORCA card
Show the driver your valid paper pass
For youth riders only, show the driver your student ID

Learn more about Transit HERE

STAY CONNECTED

Trip Planner Help

Trip Planner Tips - Entering Locations

To create a trip plan you need to enter both a starting location (origin) and an ending location (destination). For information about stops, schedules, or service at a specific location, you only need to enter one location.

The Trip Planner recognizes most street intersections and addresses as well as many landmarks in Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties. If what you entered is not immediately recognized, the Trip Planner will offer you a list of options. You can choose one of the options, but if your intended location is not there, select the "Revise Original Entries" link to return to the entry page and change the entries you have already made.

Addresses

You don't need to type in the city along with the address. The Trip Planner shows the possible city names as options if needed. City names are based on zip codes.
You don't need to type in St., Street, Ave., or Avenue, or similar street types. The Trip Planner shows the possible alternatives as options if needed. (Example: type 110 Jones instead of 110 Jones Boulevard.)
You don't need to type in the directional designations for streets, but if a direction name is part of a street name, you should include it. (Example: type 1000 Main instead of 1000 S Main. But type 1000 West Viewmont for 1000 West Viewmont Way W.)
Some streets and addresses are unknown to the Trip Planner. You may need to enter another nearby location, such as an intersection or a landmark.
You should not enter the suite number or apartment number. Just the house number and street name (Example: type in 401 Broadway instead of 401 Broadway Avenue Suite 800).

Intersections

The "&" symbol is the only character used between two street names to show an intersection. (Examples: 1st & B, James & Madison)
You don't need to type in the city. The Trip Planner shows the possible city names as options if needed. City names are based on zip codes.
You don't need to type in St., Street, Ave., or Avenue, or similar street types. The Trip Planner shows the possible alternatives as options if needed. (Example: type Conifer & Jones instead of Conifer Circle & Jones Boulevard.)
You don't need to type in the directional designations for streets, but if a direction name is part of a street name, you should include it. (Example: type 3rd & Main instead of 3rd S & S Main. But type 34th & West Viewmont for 34th W & West Viewmont Way W.)
Some streets are unknown to the Trip Planner. You may need to enter another nearby intersection or a landmark.

Landmarks

Government Sites: Pierce County Health Dept, Pierce Co Sheriffs Office, Tacoma City Hall

Major Commercial Sites: Tacoma Mall, Sheraton Hotel

Transportation Facilities: Sea-Tac Airport, Greyhound Bus Depot

Schools & Colleges: Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Community College

Sports & Leisure: Cheney Stadium, Pt Defiance Zoo

Medical Facilities: Group Health, Tacoma General Hospital