ORCA

Pierce Transit waives youth ORCA card fees on new cards

Pierce Transit is pleased to announce that individuals needing new youth ORCA cards will not have to pay the $5 card fee now through May 31, 2021. Pierce Transit is waiving the fee to encourage contactless forms of payment to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (First-time ORCA Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) or LIFT cards have been and will continue to be free.)

You can get your free youth ORCA card by:

Completing and mailing in this ORCA Card order form with proof of age to meet program requirements
Visiting Pierce Transit’s Bus Shop or any other ORCA Customer Service Office (NOTE: You may experience extended wait times in person while measures are in place to limit the spread of COVID-19)

Please note that this offer is NOT available for cards purchased on ORCAcard.com. Due to technical limitations, cards on the website will continue to be $5.

Here is the fine print:
Limit one youth card per person for ages 6-18 (NOTE: Proof of age is required, so youth cards are only available in person at customer service offices or through the mail)
Offer does not apply to business accounts, replacement cards, or previously purchased ORCA cards

Once you get your new ORCA card, you’ll be able to add value to it, in the form of Electronic Purse (E-purse) value, or a pass. There are many types of passes offered, some at discounted rates. To find out which ORCA product is right for you, give us a call at 253.581.8000, option 1, then 1 again, or visit ORCA: Products (orcacard.com).

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.

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 ORCAcard.com to learn more.

Next Generation ORCA Project

Public transit agencies throughout Central Puget Sound are building the next generation of ORCA. The new ORCA will greatly improve the customer experience, offer new payment options, maintain customer data security, and be flexible enough to adapt to changing technologies. Learn More HERE.

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