Fare Questions

Trains - How do I pay my fare on the Link or Sounder?

When you ride the Link light rail or the Sounder trains, tap your card at a card reader as tapping the card is proof of payment. Please tap at the card reader even if a pass product is loaded on the card. ***NOTE: Persons with employer-issued ORCA cards must also tap their card at a card reader to show proof of payment.*** Please tap your card before boarding the train and again when you've reached your destination. Initially, the system will charge your card the maximum fare and refund any difference (if warranted) to your card when you've tapped at your destination. Failure to tap prior to boarding is not proof of payment and can lead to a citation.

WSF - How do I use ORCA on the Washington State Ferries?

ORCA E-purse may be used at WSF locations, except Sidney, to pay for single passenger fares only. ***ORCA is valid for passenger fares only.*** A WSF Monthly Passenger pass can be loaded on your ORCA card for unlimited usage for the calendar month. Tap your ORCA card at the tollbooth or turnstile, or on the handheld reader, prior to boarding the ferry to pay for your passenger fare. If your card is loaded with an E-purse the cost of the trip will be deducted from your card. If you have WSF Monthly Passenger pass, valid for the ferry service, the reader will recognize your pass as valid fare payment for the designated calendar month.

If I don't have an ORCA card, can I still use cash to ride?

Yes. Cash is still an acceptable form of payment. However, cash transfers between agencies are not offered to cash riders. Some agencies still offer transfers to cash customers traveling within their system.

E-purse - What if I run out of money on my E-purse while I am traveling?

If you run out of transit products on your E-purse, you should pay the balance of the fare with cash. However, if you need to transfer to another bus, only the fare spent from the E-purse will be available as transfer value so you may be required to pay any additional fare in cash. To prevent running out of E-purse set up an Autoload to add value each time your E-purse reaches a zero balance.

Misc. - What is a fare preset and how does it work?

King County Metro and Sound Transit operate bus service with zone-based fares. If you regularly travel the full length of a 2-zone or 3-zone route you do not need to change the zone preset. If you travel within one zone on a route that travels 2-zones, or within two zones on a route that travels 3-zones, you can tell the driver each time you ride that you are not traveling the full length of the route. The driver will adjust the zone preset. If you are a frequent commuter you can preset your ORCA card to the number of zones you regularly travel. It's easy to preset your fare zone online or you can call 1-888-988-6722 / TTY Relay: 711, 1-888-889-6368 or visit any ORCA Customer Service Office.

Fare Products - What transportation products can I add to my ORCA card?

Your ORCA card can store value for any of the following fare products: - a Regional pass, i.e. $2.50 PugetPass, good on various transit agencies' services. - an Agency pass, i.e. Metro Reduced Monthly, specific pass good on one agency's service, or - an E-purse, stored value that works just like cash when you use transit services. The E-purse can also be used in combination with passes and products in the event that the pass or product value is less than the fare for a ride.

Misc. - I am traveling with friends/family. How do I pay for a fare for more than one person on a single ORCA card?

To pay fare for family or friends, you need to have money in your E-purse. When you board the bus, before you tap your ORCA card, tell the driver you need to pay for additional people. The driver will set the card reader to deduct the fares for your companions from your E-purse. To pay a for family or friends on Link or Sounder, at the fare vending machine use the E-purse value on your ORCA card to purchase a paper train ticket for each companion. Each person should be prepared to present their paper ticket or ORCA card upon request by the fare inspector.

Misc. - My friend is coming to town for a few days. Is my card transferable - can I give the card to my friend?

If you have an adult card, you are free to give the card to your friend. No other ORCA card is transferable. This includes Regional Reduced Fare Permits, youth or low income (Kitsap Transit only) and most ORCA cards provided by employers or other organizations.

E- Purse - What is E-purse?

E-purse stands for electronic purse and acts as cash for your transit services. When you tap the card to pay your fare, the amount is deducted from the balance. Any remaining balance will carry over to the next month for your use. You can add a between $5 to $300 to your E-purse. The E-purse can also be used in combination with passes and products in the event that the pass or product value is less than the fare for a ride.

Vanpool - Does ORCA work on vanpools?

ORCA currently works on only a small number of the agencies' vanpools. Work is underway to allow vanpool riders to pay their fare with an ORCA card. Contact your vanpool coordinator to see what options are available.

ACCESS - I want to use ORCA on King County Metro ACCESS. What do I need to do?

If you have a current King County Metro ACCESS account you can get an ORCA card at an ORCA Customer Service Office or by calling 1-888-988-6722 / TTY Relay: 711, 888-889-6368. You must register the card, and provide your ACCESS ID number. Then you can load an ACCESS pass or other monthly pass by mail, online, at a retailer or at an ORCA Customer Service Office. For specific details on how fares are paid for King County Metro ACCESS services, call 206-263-3113.

Paratransit - Does ORCA work on my agency's paratransit service?

ORCA currently works on King County Metro Access services. For information on paying your fare for paratransit services, contact your paratransit service provider.

Water Taxi - King County Water Taxi Vashon Island/Downtown Seattle

********EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2009********** - $4.50 adult cash fare - $3.75 adult fare for passengers paying with an ORCA card (E-purse and/or PugetPass loaded onto ORCA); - $3.75 adult fare for passengers paying with a PugetPass (plastic pass with magnetic stripe) - Seniors and disabled persons will receive a 50% discount with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit, resulting in a $2.25 one-way cash fare and a $1.75 one-way. ORCA RRFP, RRFP or PugetPass accepted. - Youth will receive a 20% discount resulting in a $3.60 one-way cash fare and a $3.00 one-way. ORCA or PugetPass accepted. - Passengers will pay one-way fares for all Water Taxi trips when they board the vessel (at both Vashon and Seattle). - Passengers may use PugetPass, ORCA card or cash to pay King County Water Taxi fares. You may purchase a monthly PugetPass or add a PugetPass or E-purse (stored cash value) onto an ORCA card to pay your Water Taxi fare. You may also use the E-purse or Passport (FlexPass) on an ORCA card.