Published April 29 2025
BellHop, the free shuttle service that has become an essential transportation option downtown in less than two years of existence, has received a 2025 Transportation Vision Award from the Seattle and Bellevue 2030 Districts.
“In the last 20 months, this standout program has quickly become an integral part of Bellevue’s urban mobility,” said Mayor Lynne Robinson. “BellHop’s unique service, which the city is proud to help fund, is certainly worth celebrating for its accessible, sustainable electric vehicle transportation options that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. BellHop reinforces many city priorities, and we are proud to draw inspiration from innovative opportunities like this program as we update our 2026-2030 Sustainable Bellevue Plan."
BellHop is managed by Visit Bellevue, a destination management organization that is part of the Convention Center Authority, and Circuit, a private company that operates shuttles in several cities. The on-demand service is offered free due to a funding model that utilizes hotel room fees and partner support dollars.
“Bellevue’s BellHop program is making it easier for visitors, residents and workers to move through the first and last mile in Bellevue and making it easy to connect and experience everything the city has to offer,” said Brad Jones, executive director of Visit Bellevue. “It's helping create an infrastructure that feels connected, open and intuitive and invites exploration. We're so honored to have BellHop recognized with the 2025 Vision Award as we continue to shape an innovative, future-focused destination city built around how people move, discover and connect.”
Since BellHop’s launch in 2023, its all-electric point-to-point shuttles have provided nearly 115,000 rides to more than 150,000 passengers, reducing over 100 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Three new full-size Kia electric vehicles were added to the fleet in March.
While visitors to Bellevue use the service to access various points of interest around the city, community members also take BellHop to run errands instead of driving or using rideshare services. Half of the top 10 destinations for BellHop are grocery stores.
BellHop exemplifies sustainable innovation in the transportation sector in alignment with the ideals of the Seattle 2030 District, a public-private partnership that supports reductions in the environmental impacts of buildings and vehicles.