Microtransit Pilot Project: A Flexible, Shared-ride Service

Microtransit Pilot Project:
A flexible, shared-ride service

SPOT, the newest form of transit in Washington County, offers shared, door-to-door, on-demand public transportation. It’s free of charge and available to all community members.

January 2026-SPOT Southwest Serving Communities in Beaverton and Tigard

Operating Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., SPOT Southwest helps people get around the neighborhoods of South Cooper Mountain, Progress Ridge, Murrayhill and River Terrace. It also connects to TriMet’s frequent bus service at Washington Square Transit Center.

Who is SPOT For?

Everyone! SPOT microtransit service is available to all community members. This free, ADA-accessible service can be used by anyone for work, school, shopping, medical and recreational trips.

SPOT Southwest can be especially useful for:

• Affordable housing residents in South Cooper Mountain who want to get to nearby grocery stores, Murray Scholls Library or TriMet Line 76 to travel further in the region
• Workers at Washington Square Mall, Walmart and other places who want to commute without needing a personal vehicle
• Mountainside High School students needing rides to after-school jobs or heading home from extracurricular activities

How Do I Catch SPOT?

SPOT is an 8-passenger van that is accessible for people with disabilities and equipped with bicycle racks. The vehicles are easy to spot on the road and operated by trained Ride Connection drivers. When you need to get somewhere, arrange your ride by app or phone call. In some areas, you will be directed to a specific location for drop-off or pick-up.

Download the app, get the latest updates, and Catch the SPOT!

Background: A Small but Mighty Transportation Solution

SPOT, developed as part of the Washington County’s Microtransit Pilot Project, is the Portland metro region’s first test of microtransit offered to all community members. In partnership with Ride Connection, Inc., the project is designed to assess the performance of microtransit as a service model during the short-term pilot. What we learn will help guide the future of transit service, both in this area and communities across the county that currently lack public transportation options.

The Microtransit Pilot Project is funded in part by a Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF) Discretionary Grant and by locally prioritized employee payroll taxes that will allow SPOT to run through April 2027. Continuation of the service will depend on assessment of success and availability of additional grant funding.

Driven by Community Voices

In April/May 2025 we held an online open house, attended community meetings and public events, and asked people to complete paper or online surveys.

• 93% wanted microtransit to connect to a TriMet transit hub.
• 93% preferred to arrange their rides using a mobile app. Never-the-less, rides can be planned by phone call so it’s easy for everyone.

• When we asked for most desirable microtransit operating hours, responses evenly covered all parts of the day and early evening, so we established hours from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. with room for additional adjustment.