News

Buy an Adult ORCA card at retailers

ORCA cards are now available at stores around the region.

$5 gets you an adult ORCA card. You can add products and use right away.  

Go to >FAQ and chose Retailers or Buy or add value for a list of where to buy in your area.
 
					

Adult ORCA cards now available at ORCA retailer

QFC, Safeway, Saars and other stores now stocking transit smart card among life's other necessities 

SEATTLE-Transit and ferry riders can now choose from four times the number of locations to buy ORCA, the smart card for paying fares throughout the Central Puget Sound region. More than 120 retail stores, including local QFC, Safeway and Saar's locations, just joined the 40 transit agency venues that sell ORCA cards.

"Since ORCA was launched four years ago, riders looking to buy or load value on their card have been clamoring for more convenience," said ORCA Joint Board Vice Chair and King County Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond. "Thanks to this expanded partnership, we can now bring ORCA to retail outlets closer to home."

ORCA cards are used on nearly 400,000 transit trips each weekday, representing almost 70 percent of all transit trips taken in the Central Puget Sound region. ORCA is the easiest way to pay fare on buses, trains and ferries by just tapping the card to read your monthly pass or deduct fare from your "E-purse."

ORCA, which stands for One Regional Card for All, is valid for fare payment on Community Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit, King County Metro Transit, Pierce Transit and Sound Transit buses and trains, as well as Washington State Ferries. In addition to simplifying fare payment, ORCA saves riders money by providing a two-hour transfer credit to connecting bus and train service.

There are currently 126 retail locations throughout King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties that participate in the ORCA program. Most QFC and Safeway stores in the region participate, as well as Saar's MarketPlace, the downtown Seattle Bartell's, Kingston IGA, Vashon Thriftway and Roger's MarketPlace in Mountlake Terrace.

Until now, riders could only load new fare value on an existing card at these locations. Now, they can also buy "adult" ORCA cards. Transit riders who pay reduced "senior/disabled" or "youth" fares must still go to customer service centers to get their ORCA cards since proof of eligibility is required.

Currently, all participating retail outlets are selling cards except the downtown Seattle Bartell's at Third and Union, which is in the process of finalizing a purchase agreement. A complete list of stores that revalue cards or sell cards is available at orcacard.com.

ORCA celebrated its fourth anniversary on April 20. Prior to ORCA, regional transit agencies each had their own tickets, passes and paper transfers that made paying fare confusing to customers and drivers. With ORCA, customers can avoid using cash and quickly board their bus, train or ferry with just a tap of their card. Riders who use Metro ticketbooks will want to switch to ORCA soon; after June 30 those ticketbooks will no longer be sold.

In addition to retail stores, transit riders can buy an ORCA card online at orcacard.com, at transit agency customer service centers, and through ticket vending machines at all Sounder train and Link light rail stations and at several transit centers in King County.

Mobile ORCA services coming

Soon there will be even more options to purchase adult, youth or reduced fare ORCA cards when Kitsap, Metro and Sound Transit launch mobile ORCA sales programs. Starting later this spring, Metro's "ORCA to Go" will allow customers to conveniently buy or revalue their ORCA card whenever they spot Metro's "ORCA to Go" van. Look for the van at selected community events and neighborhood centers throughout King County. Sound Transit will be bringing mobile services to communities it serves in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, and Kitsap Transit will do the same for its customers.

 
					

King County Metro ticketbook sales end June 30, 2013

Effective June 30, 2013, Metro ticketbook sales to the public will end. ORCA cards and cash will become Metro's primary fare payment options.  Metro Online and phone orders for ticketbooks must be placed no later than June 25, 2013.  No orders will be fulfilled after that time.  

All tickets purchased will remain valid on King County Metro Transit.  

Customers are urged to get an ORCA card to prepare for the change. Ordering an ORCA card is easy and costs $5 or less.

Select >ORCA options and choose the best way to purchase your ORCA card.  

 
					

Pierce Transit summer youth pass available now

Pierce Transit's Summer Youth Pass is valid June 1 - August 31 for $36.  Available now to add to a Youth ORCA card at any ORCA add value location. 

Visit www.piercetransit.org or call 800-562-8109 for Summer Youth Pass details.
 
					

Holiday Closure

Please remember to place ORCA card orders online or contact ORCA customer service, before a holiday closure. There is no mail delivery on holidays or weekends and hours of operations may be reduced. 

Contact your local transit agency for Customer Service hours of operation during the holiday.

Community Transit 				
www.communitytransit.org 
800-562-1375; TTY Relay: 711 	
			
Everett Transit
www.everetttransit.org 
425-257-7777; TTY Relay: 711 

King County Metro 	
www.kingcounty.gov/metro 
206-553-3000; 800-542-7876
TTY Relay: 711

Kitsap Transit
www.kitsaptransit.org 
800-501-7433;
TTY 360-470-4348

Pierce Transit
www.piercetransit.org
800-562-8109; TTY Relay: 711

Sound Transit
www.soundtransit.org
888-889-6368; TTY Relay: 711

Washington State Ferries
www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries
800-843-3779

 
					

Notice to Autoload Customers

If you recently replaced a card that had a pass or E-purse Autoload on it, login and check the new card on your Balance screen. 
 
If the words "Setup Autoload" appear on the product table, you will need to setup Autoload again. Either click the Setup Autoload link, or call ORCA customer service.

If the words "Update Autoload" appear then no action is required.