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 2, then Option 2 again, Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 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.

Use our online Trip Planner

The Trip Planner is 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

Currently, the adult fare is $2.00 for one ride, or $5.00 for an All Day Pass. Youth 18 and younger ride FREE! Discounts are available for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and income-qualified passengers — learn more here.

Cash

You’ll pay a fare each time you board the bus. When you pay for your trip with cash, make sure you have exact 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, valid on Pierce Transit buses and Runner service. The All Day Pass will have an expiration 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.

Mobile Ticketing App

There is an easy way to pay for Pierce Transit rides right from your smart phone! Just use Transit app, your all-in-one-app for planning a trip and paying your fare. Click here for details and download links.

College Students
If you are an eligible student at Bates Technical College, Pierce College, or Tacoma Community College, mobile transit passes are available now in the Transit app. For information about downloading a pass, just contact your college’s Transit Pass Program administrator.

ORCA

If 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: myorca.com
On your smart phone: download the myORCA app
At an ORCA Ticket Vending Machine you may purchase an adult card
In person: you may purchase a card at Pierce Transit’s Customer Service Center(Bus Shop), or purchase an adult card at one of our participating retailers HERE

3. 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 display 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.

how to read a timetable

Download a Three Quick Steps Flyer

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