Community Options

Community Circulators

The Community Circulators are bus loop services that help Washington County residents get to vital community amenities in their area. Stops may include: banks, grocery stores, clinics/hospitals, restaurants and retail businesses. In most cases, on demand stops within a short distance of the regular route can be requested.

These services run with limited days and hours and pick-up/drop-off curb-to-curb for rider convenience. There are no eligibility requirements and all vehicles are ADA accessible.

Check out the current routes available below.

Community Circulator Overview

Forest Lake Area Loop

White Bear Lake – Vadnais Heights – Mahtomedi South Loop

White Bear Lake – Vadnais Heights -Mahtomedi North Loop

Community Thread Connector Loop in Stillwater and Oak Park Heights

Cottage Grove Connector Loop

DAV Transportation Service to VA Appointments

  • Transportation to VA appointments is provided free of charge. Riders are not eligible to collect travel pay since there is no cost incurred.
  • Veterans are encouraged to request transportation as soon as they know about their appointment(s) and at least a week prior.
  • Rides are always first-come first-serve and based on availability.
  • Riders may have to wait before or after appointments to serve other ride requests.
  • Family members and caregivers may ride along, space dependent.
  • Please let the Transportation Coordinator know if you have any mobility limitations, require a walker, manual wheelchair, oxygen tank, or have other needs.
  • To schedule a ride, call: 612-467-2768.
  • For non-ambulatory VA patients, call the Minneapolis VA Transportation Service (VTS): 612-467-5799.

Other Transportation Options

Listed below are some other transportation options in Washington County. Inclusion in this listing is not intended nor does it confer any specific recommendations for services on behalf of Washington County.

Lyft: Lyft drivers use their own cars to provide trips. Some vehicles will not be ADA-accessible. Passengers can use a Smartphone app to request and pay for services. Passengers may also request a ride from Lyft without the app.

Uber: Uber drivers use their own cars to provide trips. Some vehicles will not be ADA-accessible. Passengers can use a Smartphone app to request and pay for services. Passengers may also request a ride from Uber without the app.

Community Thread, a local nonprofit, connects older adults and individuals with disabilities to volunteers willing to provide rides through its THRIVE program (service guidelines apply). Click here for information about THRIVE and Community Thread’s volunteer driver program. To assist individuals who may not meet these guidelines, Community Thread also provides a “Transportation Resources” list that may be found by clicking here. If you would like learn more about how you can serve older adults in your community by becoming a volunteer driver, contact Community Thread at 651-439-7434 or click here

Metro Vanpool is a regional program, subsidized by the Metropolitan Council, to help meet the commuting needs of commuters who reside or work in the seven-county metropolitan area. Vanpools have five to 15 people sharing the ride to and from work an average of three or more days a week.