Riders traveling between South Lake Sammamish and the Issaquah Valley Floor can now book subsidized Uber trips for as little as $3, after the City of Issaquah launched a pilot program to replace bus service lost in this fall's transit restructure.

The city's pilot program went live Oct. 13, according to the city's program page. It covers rides between two designated service areas: the South Lake Sammamish neighborhood and the Issaquah Valley Floor, which includes the Issaquah Transit Center, shopping centers, employers and healthcare providers.

The program exists because King County Metro discontinued Route 271, which had connected those areas. Route 271 was deleted as part of a broader fall 2026 Eastside restructure tied to the full opening of the 2 Line light rail, as Seattle Transit Blog reported. New routes 270, 220 and 203 replaced Route 271, but those replacements focus on connections between Eastgate, downtown Bellevue and the University District, according to MyNorthwest.

That left a local gap for riders in the South Lake Sammamish area who relied on the old route for everyday trips.

What riders pay

The city subsidizes up to $14 per eligible ride, according to the program page. Riders pay a $3 copay, plus any fare that exceeds the $14 subsidy. Each person can take up to two subsidized rides per calendar day.

The service runs 24 hours a day, though rides depend on Uber driver availability.

How it works

Riders open the Uber app, enter a pickup location and destination, and confirm the city's voucher applies before booking. Trips must start in one designated service area and end in the other. Rides within the same service area do not qualify.

The program connects riders to the Issaquah Transit Center, where they can transfer to regional bus services. It also reaches destinations across the valley floor, including shopping, employment and healthcare locations.

Eligibility is based on travel between the two service areas, not on where a rider lives, according to the city.

Broader Eastside transit shifts

The Issaquah pilot is one of several local efforts to fill gaps created by the fall 2026 restructure. Revised Route 269, which previously served local stops in Issaquah and the Issaquah Transit Center, no longer does so. It now runs between Marymoor Village and Mercer Island, according to Seattle Transit Blog.

Nearby Redmond launched its own pilot in March 2026. That program, called RedLink, offers free on-demand electric shuttle service to light rail stations and local destinations, The Seattle Times reported. Bellevue has a similar service with BellHop, which covers a six-mile area around downtown Bellevue, according to the Times.

Amanda Mansfield, the city's transportation strategic advisor, is listed as the contact for the Issaquah program. The city's total budget for the pilot and its planned end date have not been publicly disclosed on the program page.

Riders can check eligibility and service area maps at the city's Uber Pilot Program page.