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Fares & Transfers

Pierce Transit needs your input by Feb. 13, 2023.

Pierce Transit is proposing to amend the Fare Code Policy which includes adopting the ORCA LIFT program and retaining Human Service Agency discounts. In order to make decisions that best reflect the needs of our community and riders, it is essential that we receive public comment and/or feedback regarding current fare amendment proposals.

To learn more, visit our ORCA LIFT web page HERE
Take a brief survey to provide feedback. CLICK HERE

Bus Fares

Good any time of day. Place exact change in the farebox next to the driver, use a ticket, ORCA card, or the Transit app.

FARES Adult Fare *Youth Fare **Discounted Fare
Local PT Service (one ride)
Pay onboard; or use the Transit app		 $2.00 FREE $1.00
Local PT Service - All Day Pass
Available onboard, on ORCA, or in the Transit app		 $5 N/A $2.50
Local PT Service - 30 Day Pass
Available in the Transit app		 $62 N/A N/A
Local PT Service - Monthly Pass
Available on ORCA		 $62 N/A N/A
Monthly Regional Pass
Available on ORCA		 $72 N/A $36
 

* Effective September 1, 2022, youth 18 and younger ride free on all Pierce Transit services. Youth 13 and older are encouraged to tap their Youth ORCA card, or show their current high school or middle school student ID when boarding the bus, if they have one of these cards along. Learn more at PierceTransit.org/FreeYouthPass.

**To be eligible for Discounted Fare, passenger must be a senior (age 65+), have a disability or be a Medicare Card holder. Must show Regional Reduced Fare Permit.
   

PIERCE TRANSIT ALL DAY PASS

Pierce Transit's All Day Pass is very convenient - pay just once to ride all day until 2:59 a.m (end of service day). It's good for unlimited rides on local Pierce Transit service only (not valid on SHUTTLE, Sound Transit, nor other agencies' services.) This pass is available to purchase any day of the week, right on board the bus. The PT All Day Pass costs $5.00 for adults, and $2.50 for Seniors (age 65+) or individuals with disabilities who show a valid Regional Reduced Fare Permit when boarding. Passengers using an ORCA card may load a Pierce Transit All Day Pass to their card online at myORCA.com, on the myORCA app, at Pierce Transit's Bus Shop, by phone, at a participating retail store, or at an ORCA ticket vending machine.

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How To Revalue Orca Cards

  • Online at myORCA.com. This method may take up to 48 hours to process.
  • By phone at 1.888.988.6722, or TTY Relay: 711. This method may take up to 48 hours to process.

For immediate use, bring your ORCA card to one of the following locations to revalue it:

  • the Pierce Transit Bus Shop at 505 E. 25th Street, Tacoma (across from Freighthouse Square)
  • participating ORCA retailers
  • self-serve ticket vending machines located at the Tacoma Dome Station bus platform or Sounder Stations.

Your All Day Pass will remain on your card for up to one year. It will be activated the first time you tap your card on board a Pierce Transit bus, and will expire automatically at 2:59am (end of service day). This agency-specific pass is valid only on Pierce Transit buses.

PLEASE NOTE: ORCA cards may store up to 12 products at any one time, including E-purse. If you have a current monthly pass on your card sufficient to pay your fare, the card reader will recognize that first to cover your fare. Your Pierce Transit All Day Pass would be activated on board a Pierce Transit bus if no valid monthly pass is stored. Finally, if you also have E-purse stored on your card, the card reader would utilize E-purse value if no valid monthly pass or day pass is present.

Transfers

Transferring is easy with an ORCA card. Transfers are automatic with either a pass or E-purse on an ORCA card. Your transfer credit in E-purse expires two hours after you first tap your card on board the bus. It is valid on or between Pierce Transit, Sound Transit, King County Metro, Kitsap Transit, Community Transit and Everett Transit.

 
Human Service Agency Tickets and Passes 

Certified Human Services Agencies (HSA’s) may purchase paper One Ride Tickets and paper All Day Passes. Certified HSA’s that are tax-exempt under IRS subsection 501(c)(3) may qualify for a 50% discount. For more information or to see if your agency qualifies, call 253.581.8000, option 1, then 1 again. Certified HSA’s may order their One Ride Tickets or All Day Passes by clicking the button below.

Order Ticket Books

ORCA cards

ORCA smart cards simplify fares and transfers. ORCA offers a variety of regional passes, and also“agency-specific” passes for use on just one agency’s services. Most ORCA passes are valid for unlimited rides within a specific timeframe. You can also use an ORCA card like cash to pay your bus fare. The card has an Electronic Purse (E-Purse) that stores fare value. Your ORCA card can be used for the fare that covers the trips you take most often. If you have a regional pass loaded on your card, when you take a bus or train with a higher fare, just pay the difference with E-purse. You can store value from $5 to $400 on your ORCA card.

Your monthly pass or All Day Pass is loaded on an ORCA card, which can be purchased online, on the myORCA app, by phone (1-888-988-6722; TTY relay: 711), at participating retailers or in person at Pierce Transit's Bus Shop. Your first youth ORCA card or RRFP ORCA card is free, and replacement cards cost $3 each. For adult ORCA cards, your first card and replacement cards cost $3 each.

There are several ways to get a youth ORCA card:

  • For students, ask if one is available at your school's office.
  • Visit a Customer Service Office: bring the youth along and provide proof of age only if it is not obvious that the youth is under 19. Or, if the youth is not present, you can just bring proof of age.
  • Order online: Visit myORCA.com. If you have questions call Pierce Transit Customer Service at 253.581.8000, Option 1
  • Order by mail: download an order form. Print the form and check the “Youth ORCA Card” option including birth date. Include a copy of proof of age for the youth

Regional Reduced Fare Permit

Discounts for seniors, individuals with a disability and Medicare Card holders: if you are 65 or older, have a qualifying doctor-verified disability, or have a Medicare card you may ride for a discounted fare. You must show a valid Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) when paying a discounted fare.

Regional Reduced Fare Permit applications and permits are available at Pierce Transit's Bus Shop. The initial card will be free. A replacement card will be $3. Please bring proof of age, S.S. I. disability award letter, VA paperwork with 40% or more disability, a valid Medicare card, or a Washington Department of Licensing issued identification card for a disabled parking placard and another government photo ID. Individuals with disabilities who qualify for the reduced fare must get an ORCA Regional Reduced Fare Permit in person at the Bus Shop. Seniors (65 or older) may get an ORCA RRFP by mail with proof of age, or in person at the Bus Shop, with proof of age.

Download the application as a pdf HERE

More RRFP information:

2013 RRFP Brochure
This document outlines who’s eligible, what it costs, how long it is valid, where you can use it, etc. Download Here

RRFP Medical Eligibility Criteria and Conditions.
An in-depth look at what qualifies a person to use the Regional Reduced Fare Permit, plus all the information in the brochure AND the application, all in one convenient package. Download Here

 

Secure Parking Areas (SPA's) in Tacoma for Bikes

Secure, covered bike parking is available in three locations. Rental fee is $8 per quarter or $25 per year.

  • Tacoma Dome Station* - Puyallup Ave & East G Street, lower level between the two garages.

Operated by Pierce Transit. Call 253.581.8000, select 1 for Customer Service, then 1 again for Fixed Route Bus Service for details. [DOWNLOAD RENTAL AGREEMENT]

 

SHUTTLE

FARES
SHUTTLE Fare* 		 Monthly
SHUTTLE Pass
Pierce Transit's SHUTTLE Service (one ride) $1.75 $63
 
Virtual SHUTTLE Pass

SHUTTLE passengers may pay fares with cash, One Ride ticket or a Virtual SHUTTLE Pass. The Virtual SHUTTLE Pass is valid only on SHUTTLE, not Pierce Transit local buses. Virtual SHUTTLE Passes are for use by registered SHUTTLE customers only (see eligibility requirements). Passes are valid from the first to the last of the month. Passengers who ride fixed route buses should not purchase a Virtual SHUTTLE Pass; instead, Monthly Pass loaded on an ORCA card, cash, or a One Ride ticket should be used. For more information, call 253.581.8000 Option 1, then Option 3.

*Note: Registered SHUTTLE passengers 18 and younger ride free beginning September 1, 2022.

Order Ticket Books
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Trip Planner Help

Trip Planner Tips - Entering Locations

To create a trip plan you need to enter both a starting location (origin) and an ending location (destination). For information about stops, schedules, or service at a specific location, you only need to enter one location.

The Trip Planner recognizes most street intersections and addresses as well as many landmarks in Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties. If what you entered is not immediately recognized, the Trip Planner will offer you a list of options. You can choose one of the options, but if your intended location is not there, select the "Revise Original Entries" link to return to the entry page and change the entries you have already made.

Addresses

  • You don't need to type in the city along with the address. The Trip Planner shows the possible city names as options if needed. City names are based on zip codes.
  • You don't need to type in St., Street, Ave., or Avenue, or similar street types. The Trip Planner shows the possible alternatives as options if needed. (Example: type 110 Jones instead of 110 Jones Boulevard.)
  • You don't need to type in the directional designations for streets, but if a direction name is part of a street name, you should include it. (Example: type 1000 Main instead of 1000 S Main. But type 1000 West Viewmont for 1000 West Viewmont Way W.)
  • Some streets and addresses are unknown to the Trip Planner. You may need to enter another nearby location, such as an intersection or a landmark.
  • You should not enter the suite number or apartment number.  Just the house number and street name (Example: type in 401 Broadway instead of 401 Broadway Avenue Suite 800).

Intersections

  • The "&" symbol is the only character used between two street names to show an intersection. (Examples: 1st & B, James & Madison)
  • You don't need to type in the city. The Trip Planner shows the possible city names as options if needed. City names are based on zip codes.
  • You don't need to type in St., Street, Ave., or Avenue, or similar street types. The Trip Planner shows the possible alternatives as options if needed. (Example: type Conifer & Jones instead of Conifer Circle & Jones Boulevard.)
  • You don't need to type in the directional designations for streets, but if a direction name is part of a street name, you should include it. (Example: type 3rd & Main instead of 3rd S & S Main. But type 34th & West Viewmont for 34th W & West Viewmont Way W.)
  • Some streets are unknown to the Trip Planner. You may need to enter another nearby intersection or a landmark.

Landmarks

Government Sites: Pierce County Health Dept, Pierce Co Sheriffs Office, Tacoma City Hall

Major Commercial Sites: Tacoma Mall, Sheraton Hotel

Transportation Facilities: Sea-Tac Airport, Greyhound Bus Depot

Schools & Colleges: Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Community College

Sports & Leisure: Cheney Stadium, Pt Defiance Zoo

Medical Facilities: Group Health, Tacoma General Hospital


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