King County’s Metro Flex launches in Overlake, bringing on-demand transit to a new Eastside community
Getting around the Overlake community just got easier! Today, King County Metro launched its popular Metro Flex service in the area, offering riders a new way to travel on their own schedule with affordable, on-demand rides that connect neighborhoods, transit hubs, shopping and more — all with just a few taps in an app.
Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson and leaders from the City of Redmond, Move Redmond, Sound Transit and Metro gathered Friday, Sept. 19 to officially cut the ribbon inaugurating the new service.
Using the Metro Flex app, riders can book rides on Metro-operated minivans and travel anywhere within the Overlake service area. Whether you’re meeting a friend for lunch, heading to a medical appointment or connecting to light rail, Metro Flex offers flexible service that gets you where you need to go, without needing a car.
“Metro Flex is more than just a new way to ride,” said Michelle Allison, Metro General Manager. “It’s a neighborhood-driven solution designed to meet people where they are and take them where they need to go — conveniently, affordably and sustainably.”
The service operates Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The zone is about 2.8 square miles in size, covering key destinations such as Sound Transit’s Overlake Village Link light rail station, Crossroads Bellevue Shopping Center and Interlake High School.
Easy to book a ride, pay fare
Rides cost just $3, the same as a standard Metro bus fare. Transfers are free to a bus or light rail. Reduced fares are available for seniors, riders with disabilities and customers with lower incomes. Youth 18 and under always ride free.
Download the app in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or call 206-258-7739 to book a ride.
Opening doors to your neighborhood, community and region
In addition to offering seamless travel within neighborhoods, Metro Flex in Overlake connects riders to the broader regional transit network, including light rail stations and frequent bus routes. These connections make it easier for people to commute, access essential services or simply enjoy the region — all while leaving the car at home.
By bridging gaps in traditional bus service and creating easy transfers to larger transit options, Metro Flex empowers communities with more freedom to get where they want to go.
“This launch marks an exciting new chapter for Metro and the Overlake community,” said Christina O’Claire, Metro’s Mobility Division Director. “We’ve been committed to listening to the community, refining the service and ensuring it truly meets local needs. Metro Flex is here to open doors — literally and figuratively — for our riders.”
Overlake joins a growing list of Metro Flex service areas, including Delridge/South Park, Issaquah/Sammamish, Juanita, Kent, Northshore, Othello, Rainier Beach/Skyway, the Renton Highlands and Tukwila.
“Metro Flex will help close a transportation gap in our Overlake neighborhood by providing fast, affordable and on-demand rides to and from light rail,” said Redmond Mayor Angela Birney. “The sustainable and flexible service gives our community more ways to connect to the region’s greater transit network.”
Accessible for mobility devices and with multilingual options
Metro Flex can accommodate people who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices. They simply need to include this information when creating their Metro Flex profile in the app. An accessible vehicle will be automatically assigned for all of the customer’s rides, and rider assistance will be provided.
Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson celebrated the program’s ability to “deliver reliable transit services to our neighborhoods”, adding that “affordable and community-driven travel options and enhanced connections to light rail are how we can continue building a multimodal future for the Eastside.”
As for language access, the Metro Flex app automatically translates into a customer’s preferred language on their phone if it is set to Amharic, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian or Vietnamese. Riders can also access translation services by saying their language or asking for translation to one of over 300 languages when calling Customer Service at 206-258-7739.
The Overlake Metro Flex Pilot will operate for two years and then will be evaluated to determine if it meets standards to continue as an ongoing service.
ABOUT METRO FLEX
Metro Flex is King County Metro’s on-demand neighborhood transit service designed to offer quick, convenient rides within defined service areas. Riders can request a ride using the Metro Flex app or by phone, and travel to and from anywhere within the service zone. The service is designed to complement Metro’s broader network by improving local mobility and creating stronger connections to high-capacity transit options.