ORCA

FREE YOUTH TRANSIT PASS

Starting September 1, 2022, youth ride FREE on Pierce Transit! If you are 18 or younger, bring your Youth ORCA card, High School Student ID, or Middle School Student ID along and you’ll ride for free. Details are here.

New Retail Network Launches

ORCA is starting to sell the new version of the ORCA card at vending machines. Both classic blue and new black cards will be dispensed at vending machines through the end of the year. New black ORCA cards will become available at all locations by Fall 2022.

What you need to know:

New ORCA cards now work system-wide. They will also begin working at retail store locations starting in October 2022.
It's important to remember that all classic ORCA cards (standard blue, ORCA LIFT, and all Regional Reduced Fare Permits) will continue to work like normal to board transit and add value. The only change to be aware of is Safeway and Albertsons stores will stop reloading the classic cards on December 1, 2022. Only new black or new RRFP ORCA cards may be loaded at Safeway and Albertsons stores.

This means customers that rely on those stores for reloading value need to replace their cards, or reload at a QFC or Fred Meyer store or other location. More information on how to do so can be found here: https://info.myorca.com/retail/

The New ORCA Project

Beginning on May 16, 2022, the new myORCA mobile app and myORCA.com website is making paying for transit rides in the Puget Sound region faster and easier.
In 2022, we’re upgrading ORCA. That means a better payment experience and more choices for managing your account. You can now add value to your account in real-time, manage your account from anywhere with the myORCA App and find more retail locations closer to you. Go to www.myORCA.com to learn more.
Mid-2022, we’re introducing a new, black ORCA card updated to the improved look and feel of the brand. Once the new cards are introduced at retail stores, you may need a new card if you’d like to continue adding E-purse value at retail stores. As new stores join the ORCA network, they will be added to the regional retailers map.
Future updates in 2023 will include new tap-to-pay functionality launching on mobile devices, enabling riders to use their phones to pay for transit.

Quick. Convenient. Worry-free.
Visit myORCA.com to learn more.

The Smart, Easy Way To Ride The Bus, Train & Ferry

Your ORCA card works like cash or a pass, automatically tracking the value of different fares and transfers so you don't have to.

No need for correct change, just tap your ORCA at the card reader and your fare is paid. Whether you commute in the region by ferry, train, rail, or bus - or a combination - one card is all you need.

ORCA is accepted on: Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro Transit, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit and Washington State Ferries.

Your card can be personalized for your needs:

A regional pass like PugetPass.
An agency-specific pass like the Pierce Transit Adult Monthly Pass or Pierce Transit All Day Pass.
No need for correct change, your ORCA transportation balance is called an E-purse.
A combination pass and E-purse.
Here’s a guide to help you set up an account. CLICK HERE

And, if you register your card, you can monitor the card and have the security of balance replacement if your card is lost or stolen. Want more info about fare products and card types?

Quick. Convenient. Worry-free. Visit myORCA.com to learn more.

Notice June 29, 2022

Due to supply chain issues with card providers, combined with increased transit ridership due to higher gas prices, employees returning to work, an easing of the COVID pandemic, some ORCA vending machines may periodically be sold out of cards through the summer of 2022.

Customers may need to try multiple machines in a station to find one that has a card to sell them, and stations may run out completely.

This issue only effects customers that do not already have an ORCA card. Vending machines will continue to reload all card types indefinitely.

Customers may search elsewhere to buy a new card: online, by calling, visiting customer service, or going to a retail store.

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