FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - UPDATE

BellHop Electric Shuttle Service Here to Stay in Bellevue 
Visit Bellevue, Amazon, and City of Bellevue partner to keep BellHop 

Bellevue, Washington (June 17, 2024) - Visit Bellevue is thrilled to announce the transition of the BellHop free electric shuttle service from a pilot to an ongoing program thanks to funding from Amazon, the City of Bellevue, and the Tourism Promotion Area (TPA). Long-term funding will allow BellHop to evolve, providing 100% electric, on-demand, micro transit solutions to better connect visitors, residents, and the workforce while mitigating urban traffic and parking challenges. 

"BellHop has become an integral part of Bellevue's transportation ecosystem. I'm thrilled that this free, electric shuttle service is here to stay, thanks to the support of Amazon, The City of Bellevue and the TPA," said Brad Jones, Executive Director of Visit Bellevue. "A lot goes on behind the scenes to propel Bellevue towards sustainable urban mobility, and we’re so grateful for our team and amazing partners. This investment provides essential connectivity and stimulates the local economy by bringing people to the vibrant businesses, restaurants, shops, attractions, services, and incredible parks and open spaces across Bellevue.” 

The five-month BellHop pilot program, which is Visit Bellevue’s version of Circuit Transit, launched in August 2023 and was extended for another five months after meeting key benchmarks. When operation began, BellHop provided a much-needed solution for the hospitality industry, offering hotel guests a sustainable way to visit local attractions after shuttles largely disappeared during the pandemic. Now, the on-demand, electric shuttle service allows the entire Bellevue community to efficiently navigate the city in an environmentally friendly way. 

"Amazon is proud to support BellHop and its sustainable transportation solutions that benefit our community," said Shannon Loew, Vice President of Global Real Estate & Facilities at Amazon. "This service further enhances connectivity for our employees, visitors, and the local workforce by providing even more ways to access key destinations around Bellevue. We're excited to see how this innovative program continues to grow and look forward to its positive impacts on mobility, equity, and environmental sustainability." 

With the Environmental Stewardship Plan, the City of Bellevue aims to achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and 100% renewable energy use by 2050. BellHop directly supports these goals by electrifying urban mobility and reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips. Since service began in August 2023, the BellHop fleet has provided 47,200 rides to 67,827 passengers, saving an estimated 62.60 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions - equivalent to 7,041 gallons of gasoline.  As the 'City in a Park', Bellevue is committed to maintaining its natural beauty and cleanliness, ensuring a sustainable future for all its residents and visitors. 

"Sustainable mobility is a priority for Bellevue’s environmental strategy, and BellHop has proven to be a vital clean energy transportation solution for our workforce, residents, and community to complete essential tasks like grocery shopping, traveling to workplaces, and accessing medical appointments," said Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson. "With over 111,000 miles traveled and counting, BellHop has revitalized our transportation system by closing the last-mile gap between existing public transit services." 

Update: BellHop Service Expansion

The BellHop service is expanding to include a new weekday, on-demand morning service starting June 17th. This service accommodates early morning riders by providing direct transportation from Bellevue's Downtown Transit Station (Light Rail & Metro stations) to select downtown stops from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM, Monday through Friday. 

Limited-Service Locations:

• Stop 1: Bellevue Downtown Light Rail Station - Located at 110th Ave NE & NE 6th Street. Look for the BellHop Pick-Up Sign.
• Stop 2: 108th Ave NE & NE 4th Street - Situated between NE 2nd Place and NE 4th Street on the east side of 108th Ave NE.
• Stop 3: 106th Ave NE & Main Street - Southwest corner of 106th Ave NE.
• Stop 4: 106th Ave NE & NE 4th Street - On the north side of NE 4th Street, in the loading zone near the Bank of America ATM.
• Stop 5: NE 10th Street - South side of NE 10th Street, directly behind the Hyatt Regency Bellevue in the passenger loading zone.

BellHop's on-demand service currently operates Sunday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday/Saturday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. For more information and updates, visit the Visit Bellevue BellHop page.  

For visitor information, please visit www.visitbellevuewa.com or look for Visit Bellevue’s mobile welcome center.  

About Visit Bellevue Washington 

Visit Bellevue Washington (VBW) is Bellevue’s official Destination Marketing and Management Organization (DMMO), representing the city’s hotels, the Meydenbauer Convention Center, and the entire Bellevue hospitality community. A safe, walkable, and easily accessible city, Bellevue provides a vibrant fusion of welcoming hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, lively culture, outdoor recreation world-class shopping. Surrounded by pristine natural beauty with big-city amenities, Bellevue offers a wide variety of entertainment experiences and is home to innovative global corporations. www.visitbellevuewa.com   

Media Contact 
Anna Yan, Communications Manager 
Visit Bellevue Washington 
ayan@visitbellevuewa.com