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When You Need Us
"I appreciate my driver. She is very helpful to her riders! She made my day!"
~Jean
"I just wanted to acknowledge a bus driver this morning that not only advised me how to correctly release and bring down the bike gate but also handled another situation with another mischievous rider in a very polite and effective manner as well."
~Lewis
"My driver is pleasant and cheerful; and on time. He lets me off a little closer to where I need to go in to work. I have some difficulty walking up hill and this little kindness is most appreciated."
~Lewis
"I have been a rider of your company for over a decade and I really appreciate the ride. Your buses are comfortable and is 'the most on time' transportation, I find."
~Holly
"I use the bus to commute to work regularly.  I just wanted to compliment the bus driver on my route.  She is so nice and friendly to all the riders. She is really awesome with her positive attitude and constant smile."
~Cindy 
"I enjoy seeing my driver. She is really awesome with her positive attitude and constant smile."
~Bevin 
"Thanks for being the best at what you do, and for putting your passengers first!"
~April
"You have no idea how much this means to me that one of your professional staff drivers was kind enough to help her out in what could have been a very distressing situation. I consider this an excellent example of outstanding customer service on Pierce Transit's part. This really is extraordinary, and for that I am extremely grateful."
~Colin
"Thank you Pierce Transit and our bus operator, aka my VIP chauffeur and chariot, for your team efforts in bringing a smile to my morning! "
~Joey
theres a seat for you.

1. Plan Your Trip

Call Customer Service

Pierce Transit Customer Service staff are happy to help you plan your bus trip. Call 253.581.8000 Option 1, then Option 1 again, Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. Be ready to provide the following information:

  • Your starting address
  • The address of your destination
  • The day of the week you wish to travel
  • The time of day you wish to leave your starting address or arrive at your destination

Our staff will plan your bus travel and tell you what the fare is. Have a pen and paper handy to write down the information.

Online Trip Planner located on our home page or in the left column of this page.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, use Pierce Transit’s Trip Planner to plan your trip from beginning to end. Enter your information, then click the Plan My Trip button and you have a trip plan! You may print the plan and take it with you.

2. Pay Your Fare

Have your fare ready before boarding. Currently, the adult fare is $2.00 for one ride, or $5.00 for an All Day Pass. The discounted youth fare* is $1.00 for one ride, or $2.50 for an All Day Pass.

Cash

You’ll pay a fare each time you board the bus. When you pay for your trip with cash, make sure you have correct change, since the farebox does not issue change. As you enter the bus, there is a slot on the farebox that collects dollar bills and a coin slot at the top of the farebox.

All Day Pass

Pierce Transit All Day Passes may be purchased on board Pierce Transit buses. Just tell the driver, then insert exact cash into the farebox, and it will dispense your All Day Pass. The All Day Pass will have an expiration date and time printed on the back. When boarding your next Pierce Transit bus that day, slide your pass through the magnetic stripe reader (with the magnetic stripe at the bottom) on the farebox.



PiercePay℠

This is an easy way to pay for rides on Pierce Transit buses. PiercePay℠ is available through the Hopthru app, which is free and easy to set up. Download Hopthru from the App Store or Google Play sites, and purchase All Day Passes or One Ride Tickets. Once you have this app, you won’t need cash or exact change when you are ready to ride, just use your smart phone.

ORCA

If you find that you regularly ride Pierce Transit, consider the convenience and savings of a bus pass loaded on an ORCA card. Our Customer Service staff can help you choose the pass that best meets your needs.

The ORCA card is easy to get

  • Online: orcacard.com
  • By phone: 1.888.988.6722 or TTY Relay: 711.
  • In person: Visit Pierce Transit’s Bus Shop at Tacoma Dome Station to get an adult, youth or Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) ORCA card. Purchase the card itself for a small fee, then you’re ready to purchase a pass or E-purse (used like cash to pay your fare) value. If you currently receive a transit benefit from your employer or other organization, ask your Employee Transportation Coordinator how to get an ORCA card.


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*Reduced Fares

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. To
find out if you are eligible, contact Customer Service or visit PierceTransit.org/PT-fares.



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*Discounts for Youth

Youth 18 and younger are eligible for Pierce Transit’s $1.00 Youth fare. If you’re a teenager, please carry an ID card that shows your age. A driver may want to know if you are eligible.

3. Enjoy the Ride

Enjoy the ride

Now that you have your plan and have your fare with you, it is time to go! Be sure to arrive at your stop at least 5 minutes early.

When boarding, you may ask the bus operator to lower the bus ramp or to have the bus kneel if you have difficulty with steps.

If you use a wheelchair, the operator will assist you with securing your device.

You may ask the operator to announce your stop if you are unsure where you need to get off the bus.

On board, you can watch the reader which will tell you where you are along the route. You can also listen to the bus stop announcements.

When your stop is announced pull the cord to trigger the bus stop request, and please–remain seated until the bus stops.

If you are transferring at a transit center and you’re not sure where to catch your next bus, ask the operator or any transit personnel and they will assist you.

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Three quick steps to riding the bus
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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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