Resources

ORCA Business Passport

Business Passport is a deeply discounted comprehensive annual transportation pass program for employers with 20-499 employees (minimum of 5 employees for downtown Tacoma businesses.) Custom Passport is also available for companies over 500 employees.

Business Passport includes unlimited travel on all Pierce Transit, Sound Transit, King County Metro Transit, Kitsap Transit, Community Transit, and Everett Transit services, including Sounder Train, Link Light Rail, Seattle Streetcar, and King County Water Taxi (Vashon and West Seattle routes), 100% vanpool subsidies, and Emergency Ride Home (ERH) taxi service. Washington State Ferry passes can also be added on individual employee cards.

Program Highlights:

ORCA Business Passport is deeply discounted from retail pass pricing, and is available only to businesses.
Unlimited regional travel on participating transit agency services.
One pass covers all employees’ commute needs – whether it be traveling to work, traveling evenings or on the weekends.
Saves time not having to manage monthly transit passes.
Must provide to all benefits eligible employees which allows employers to offer an equitable transportation benefit to everyone.
Includes 100% vanpool subsidies – Custom vanpool priced separately.
Includes the Emergency Ride Home (ERH): Employees can take up to six taxi rides home per year (and get reimbursed) in the event of an unexpected emergency, allowing employees to feel comfortable leaving their car at home.

How does it work?

Business Passport requires that a pass be purchased for every benefits-eligible employee. However, participating companies can choose to have employees who receive the pass pay up to 50% of the annual cost of the individual pass. Cost also varies depending on the location of your company’s work site.

ORCA Passport Pricing:

The price of ORCA Business Passport varies depending on the location(s) of a company’s work site. Passport prices are based on average ridership levels within zone boundaries, and are adjusted every 6 months to reflect fare changes amongst the seven participating transit agencies. Pierce County has two zones: Tacoma/Fife/Lakewood, and the Pierce County Suburbs. For current pricing, details about pricing boundaries, and company qualifications, please contact Sharon Stockwell, Employer Services Coordinator at 253.581.8112 or sstockwell@piercetransit.org

Become a Partner

Click Here to learn more.

ORCA Business Accounts

Click Here to learn more.

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

Trip Planner