Everything you need for a great commute is at the tap of your finger. A pilot project provided bus information displays along a city arterial. . ORCA transfer is valid on Sound Transit buses and trains, Seattle Streetcar, King County Water Taxi, and other transit providers. The tunnel finished its retrofit and returned to service on September 24, 2007[57] and light rail trains began service on July 18, 2009. *Downtown Tunnel Stations include:Westlake, University St., Pioneer Square and International District. [19][20] It was later renamed the Ride Free Area (RFA). in your browser. In 2010, the AVL system was replaced with a GPS-based system as part of a system-wide radio update. Day passes (good for round-trip or multi-trip rides) are also available from ticket machines. It formerly carried bus traffic alongside light rail trains, stopping at a fifth station in the north and connecting to the SODO Busway in the south. By Michelle Allison, King County Metro General Manager. The authority was formed after civic leaders, including those in the Municipal League, noted that solutions to regional issues were complicated by local boundaries and a plethora of existing special districts. Today, some buses lay over along Eastlake Avenue East between trips. [53], The King County Metro fares as of July 1, 2018 are:[54], One-way fare (Peak, 1 Zone), with year of rate change:[55]. When you're ready to board, simply activate the ticket and get on. Working with 40 neighborhoods to encourage residents to use sustainable travel modes and save money, help the environment and be more active while theyre at it. King Street Center 201 S. Jackson St . ", "Rider Alert! Please plan your trip with enough time to complete your transaction prior to boarding. King County is taking action to confront climate change, and Metro is playing a major role by reducing transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Riders will be able to request pickup and drop-off within defined service areas via a mobile app, which is similar to . King County GIS Center King Street Center 201 S. Jackson St. Suite 706 Seattle, WA 98104 giscenter@kingcounty.gov + 47.59909 N - 122.33136 W + 47 35' 56.72" Together with KCM, well introduce a next frontier of equitable mobility with Metro Flex making it easier for the community to access more of the Seattle area than ever before. Transfer fare is calculated and applied automatically between services. King County Executive Dow Constantine announced today that Metro will join other regional transit agencies to provide free rides this New Year's Eve. Starting September 1, 2022, riders 18 and younger can take transit for free thanks to Move Ahead Washington, a statewide transportation funding package. Paying for your ride is easy on buses, trains, streets cars, and even the ferries with an ORCA card. With Metro Flex (powered by TransitTech provider Via), anyone can download our app and ride anywhere within a service area, all for the same cost as a Metro bus trip. [51] Half of the lots are leased from other property owners such as churches. Buses range in size from 30-foot (9.1m) shuttles to articulated buses on higher-demand routes. More about Access fares, Good for adult fares up to $3.50 when loaded on an ORCA card. Our riders have embraced our on-demand services, and on March 6, well unite them under our new Metro Flex neighborhood transit service. Youth ages 0-18. [27][28] Since 2003, Metro has contracted with senior charities to operate the Hyde Shuttle system, which provides free rides to elderly or disabled passengers in Seattle and other cities. Park nearby. By way of contrast, Metro's peak-only route with the lowest cost per boarding was route 206 (Newport Hills to International School), at $2.04. From the first successful steam ferry launches of the "Mosquito Fleet", Seattle's first street car in 1884, the creation of Seattle Transit and eventually King County Metro Transit, our mass transit history milestones are listed here. [60], Metro began developing its park and rides in the 1970s using various funding sources, including federal grants. Growing for the future. For convenience, add additional money or a pass to this ORCA Adult card using the same application form. Pay your Link fare with: **RequiresRegional Reduced Fare Permit. Buy and reload cards at participating retailers, vending machine locations and customer service offices across the region. A combination monthly pass valid for Metro Vanpool riders that provides unlimited rides on Metro buses and $99 towards your Vanpool fare. Day passes (good for round-trip or multi-trip rides) are also available from ticket machines. If you are transferring, ask the driver for a paper transfer at the time you pay. Book a Trip By Telephone. Seattle, King County, WA, USA kingcounty.gov/metro Joined December 2009. Some transit centers also offer a park and ride facility. King County Department of Transportation. After downloading the new Metro Flex app from the app store on their phone, existing and new on-demand riders choose their desired destination. King County Metro Transit tickets and transfers . . Several routes were also split between trunk routes using articulated buses and shuttles to serve hillier areas with smaller buses. Advance equity. The measure was approved by 56.62% of King County voters in the November 2007 general election. [15], After completion of the downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel project, attention was drawn again to developing a regional rail system. For fares up to $3.50 $8.00/day. A free transfer is available to cash, ORCA, and mobile app riders. Metros popular on-demand services have proven their value over the past several years, and we are delighted to bring them together under one program. The pandemic has hastened a fork in the road for our local public transit agencies. Public transit operator in King County, Washington, US, A King County Metro bus operating on Route 157 in. Chapter 2. The suburban system is more numerically organized. @KingCountyMetro. Do I need Wi-Fi or cellular data to buy or activate a Transit GO Ticket? Children 5 and under ride free with a paying adult. The changes are designed to provide easy transit connections, keep buses running on time, and improve safety by separating cars and buses during the busiest hours. The system will extend the legacy RFID-based TSP system. Theyll receive a nearby pick-up location to meet their driver and may share the ride with other passengers. Along with Metro's usual spring updates, however, King County and regional transit riders and community members are being affected and engaged by the more pressing * Online at the Reduced Fare Portal ** For King County & Sound Transit only. Beginning September 1, youth up to age 18 can ride for free with a Youth ORCA card or a school ID, or by simply boarding transit. SOLD JUN 15, 2022. Share. Metro is working on new ways to improve regional mobility and reduce single-occupant vehicle travel. Learn more and apply for a Free Youth Transit Pass here. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Yes, cash will continue to be accepted on Metro buses, and via ticket vending machines for other transit services. Metro bus driver Lisa Nault, who campaigned recently for Prop 1 downtown, said there is a fallback: a free shuttle in downtown to replace the ride free zone. [56] While it was planned from the outset to be convertible to use by trains, the tunnel began operation with a fleet of 236 Breda dual-mode buses that operated using a diesel motor on city streets and an electric motor (with power fed by overhead trolley wire) in the tunnel. [3] The fleet includes a mix of electric trolleybuses, diesel-electric hybrids, and battery electric buses. King County will also offer virtual Neighborhood Pop-Ups online. Since 2019, King County Metro's on-demand services have provided safe, reliable connections for people and places that aren't near frequent bus or rail service. Youth ages 6-18 use an ORCA card, school ID, or simply board. The ride to Grand Central during peak commuting times takes just under an hour; the one-way fare is $13.75 . Riders may also pay with credit or debit card, but not with cash. The card is free. [38] The first freeway flyer stop opened in 1975 at Montlake Boulevard and State Route 520. In 2021, the system had a ridership of 52,368,400, or about 215,700 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2022. A major Metro facility is the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (DSTT), a 1.3-mile-long, four-station tunnel that allows Central Link light rail trains to travel under the heart of downtown Seattle. If you are transferring, the fare you paid with your first tap will transfer with you for up to two hours on all other ORCA transit services, except Washington State Ferries. Departure times are shown on information signs at the bus stop. It is the eighth-largest transit bus agency in the United States. .. Last Updated November 28, 2022. . How is the Transit GO Ticket different than an ORCA card? Tacoma Link fares continue to be free thanks to funding from the Tacoma Business Improvement Area. Paper transfers and mobile tickets are only valid on Metro buses only. Find all the places you can get an ORCA card! Morris. The suburban network typically operates on major streets between the regions employment and population centers. For nearly two years, Sound Transit has been working to implement meaningful changes to our fare compliance policies and practices. ORCA is the easiest way to pay your fare. General rider inquiriesmain@soundtransit.org1-888-889-6368, TTY Relay 711, They are twice the one-way fare and are valid for travel only on the date purchased, between the stations printed on the ticket. The number is (206) 553-3000. King County Metro operates a weekend express shuttle between Seattle and hiking areas in the Cascade foothills called Trailhead Direct from April to October. With the ORCA LIFT card, income qualified adult riders can get big savings on fares for ST Express buses, Sounder and Link light rail trains. No more worries about carrying cash for transit fare, Transit Go Ticket is good on King County Metro Buses, Sound Transit Express Bus, Light Rail and Sounder, King County Water Taxi, Seattle Streetcar and Kitsap Transit routed buses and . The RFA extended from the north at Battery St. to S. Jackson St. on the south and east at 6th Avenue to the waterfront on the west. Available on ORCA cards only and is valid for all transit providers in the Central Puget Sound region. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message. Because of the scattershot evolution of the system, there is no easily discernible pattern to the route numbers, although there are clusters in certain neighborhoods. Metro has a regional trip planner that provides itineraries for transit trips within King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, including those on Sound Transit services, Washington State Ferries, the Seattle Center Monorail, and the Seattle Streetcar. Fares have risen four times and will go up again next spring. Metro was reluctant to adopt low-floor buses, not buying any until 2003. [62] In the 1980s, Metro proposed co-locating its park and rides with commercial developments to encourage transit-oriented development and attract more riders. Learn more about ORCA LIFT. King County Metro Fare Costs. It's a privilege to serve our hundreds of thousands of daily riders. It was launched for public use on April 20, 2009, along with six other transit agencies in the region. Metro paper transfers are valid on only Metro buses. Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Transit Alerts at. In addition, the King County Metro bus stop located on N Mercer Way and 80th Ave SE will be temporarily moved west of its current location. [13][14] In 1992, after gaining approval by popular vote, the municipality's roles and authorities were assumed by the government of King County. The Transit GO Ticket app is a great way to get anywhere you want to go in the Seattle area. KSC-TR-0324. Metro Online offers bus, vanpool, carpool, bicycle and related information for the Seattle-King County area. [37] This practice was pioneered at Seattle Transit as the Blue Streak express bus service running between Northgate Park & Ride and Downtown Seattle. The value will automatically be used to supplement a pass if the fare for a trip is worth more than the pass value. On 3rd Avenue, each bus route is assigned to Blue, Yellow, Red or Green stop groups and each bus stop has two color designations; in the northbound direction, every other bus stop is a Red/Yellow or Green/Blue stop, while in the southbound direction they are Green/Yellow and Red/Blue. . King County Metro united the transit agencies of jurisdictions across King County and now includes bus, light rail, on-demand services, paratransit, streetcar, vanpool and other modes. See below for a list of adult fares by service. Community Transit fares; Pierce Transit fares; There are two ways to pay for bus fare. Riders age 19 to 64 pay a fare depending on the type of trip. Three shuttle services contracted out to private operators, including Via, were merged in 2023 under the "Metro Flex" brand. Senior/disabled fares (age 65+ or qualifying . Metro's entire fleet has been wheelchair-accessible since 1999. About. https://www.transit.wiki/index.php?title=King_County_Metro_fares&oldid=175795. Neither are valid on Sounder trains or Link light rail. [24], A 1975 study found that while the Ride Free Area generally reduced bus travel times within the RFA itself, buses that traveled through the Ride Free Area to other destinations generally did not benefit. Sometime in the not-too-distant future, King County Metro plans to rip out its existing fare boxes, which accept cash, tickets, and ORCA transit passes, and replace them with a cash-free payment system part of a long-term plan to expedite boarding, integrate the County's bus system with Sound Transit, and reduce conflicts between riders and drivers. Service is available from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday and holidays. Customer Information Office. Ferry/Water Taxi. The farebox has a sign that tells you the fare. Connect with Metro; . Your card will be listed as a payment method. Youth (age 6- 18) $1.50. From paying for tickets on the go using cash or credit card; to being a safe, contactless way to pay your transit fare, the Transit GO Ticket has all the features you need right in the palm of your hand. In addition to credit cards, debit cards and cash uploads, are there any other payment forms accepted for purchasing Transit GO Tickets? [7], The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle was created by a local referendum on September 9, 1958, as a regional authority tasked with management of wastewater and water quality issues in King County. 10, 2023. Tap your ORCA card flat against the ORCA logo on the card reader at your stop before you board or at the front of the bus as you board. See below for a list of low-income adult fares by service. Metro employs 2,716 full-time and part-time operators and operates 1,540 buses. From paying for tickets on the go using cash or credit card; to being a safe, contactless way to pay your transit fare, the Transit GO Ticket has all the features you need right in the palm of your hand. Just bring up a ticket on your phone and ride with ease, whether on the bus, Fast Ferry, Link light rail, Sounder, Seattle Streetcar or Water Taxi. A free transfer is available to cash, ORCA, and mobile app riders. 10:32 a.m. 11:02 a.m. Leaving. [8] The municipality's transit operations was a stand-alone department within the county until 1996, when it became a division of the newly created King County Department of Transportation. Call 206-553-3000 for assistance. Metro Flex delivers flexible, reliable transportation for the same cost as a Metro bus fare. More about day passes. After suspending fares in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, King County Metro will resume collecting fares on Thursday, October 1. Use your ORCA card or the Transit GO Ticket app for touch-free payment. As of 2017, King County Metro operates the 10th largest fleet of buses in the United States, with a total of 1,540 buses. [68] The system uses RFID tags that are read as buses approach a TSP equipped intersection. The following King County Metro routes pickup adjacent to the light rail station on International Boulevard: Rapid Ride A-line (Federal Way) Route 161 (Burien/Kent) Route 156 (Southcenter/Des Moines) Route 124 operates on the airport drives between 1 am and 5 am. [citation needed]. Metro paper transfers are valid on only Metro buses. If boarding through the rear doors, be prepared to show your activated ticket to a fare enforcement officer, if asked. As with other Metro services, reduced fares are available for customers with . Hamissi Mamba of Baobab Fare competed on Food Network's "Chopped," won and donated $10,000 to Freedom . Enter your zip code to search for the nearest retail location. See below for a list of senior/disabled fares by service. Please contact us. 511 Following. Learn more Adult Orca. Learn more, Disabilities or Medicare fares (qualifying disability), The Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) entitles riders with a disability and Medicare card holders to reduced fares on public transportation systems in the Puget Sound region. Need help? Its critical we move riders where they need to get to, when they need to travel. [77] Today, King County Metro has one of the largest articulated fleets in North America (second only to MTA New York City Transit) and articulated buses account for about 42% of the agency's fleet.[2]. [57] Crews lowered the roadway to match the height of Central Link's low-floor light rail vehicles, replaced the overhead trolley wire with catenary wire, and built a stub tunnel where trains could reverse direction and allowed for construction of the University Link extension to the north (which was completed in 2016). @kcmetroalerts. All riders boarding in downtown must now pay as they board.[18]. Due to bridge/tunnel rehab project, express shuttles operate btwn Crystal City & L'Enfant Plaza weekdays only btwn 6:20a-9:30a & 3:20p-8:00p. To coincide with new Link service, King County Metro is also updating their on-campus bus service to better serve the U District and University of Washington stations. Sidewalk closure, new pedestrian detour and movement of bus stop. [25][26], The in-city routes with the highest ridership are the RapidRide D Line from downtown to Crown Hill via Uptown/Seattle Center and Ballard; the 7, traveling from downtown through the International District to the Rainier Valley; the 40, traveling from downtown through South Lake Union, Fremont, and Ballard to Northgate; the RapidRide C Line from South Lake Union and downtown to West Seattle's Alaska Junction and Westwood Village; the 36, traveling from downtown through the International District to Beacon Hill; the 5 from downtown via the Woodland Park Zoo and Greenwood/Phinney Ridge to Shoreline Community College; the 44, a crosstown route connecting the University District and Ballard; the 8, a crosstown route connecting Uptown/Seattle Center and South Lake Union with Capitol Hill, the Central District and Mount Baker; and the 70, connecting downtown to South Lake Union, Eastlake, and the University District. [21] Until 1987, the zone was in effect 24 hours a day, but in October of that year Metro began requiring fare payment within the zone during night-time hours, between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m., to reduce fare-related conflicts that sometimes led to assaults on drivers;[22] in February 1994, the RFA's hours were reduced further, with fare payment required between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.[23], A King County Auditor's Office report released in September 2009 found that Metro "can neither fully explain nor provide backup documentation for the operating cost savings that offset the fare revenues in the calculation of the annual charges to the City of Seattle for the citys Ride Free Area" and that some assumptions in the methodology Metro used to calculate the amount of lost fares were "questionable" and have not been updated to reflect changes to the fare structure and fare collection methods. Check Twitter feeds for transit agencies for current service updates prior to travel. . In the early 1970s, the private Metropolitan faced bankruptcy because of low ridership. Time. ORCA works like cash or a pass, automatically tracking the value of different fares and transfers so you don't have to. On Metro RapidRide buses, the driver will always give you a paper transfer when paying with tickets. Regional transit agencies will be operating on the following schedules to accommodate fare-free New Year's Eve rides: King County Metro: Buses will operate on their regular Saturday schedule and be fare-free from 3 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, through 3 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. Rememberto tap on at your starting station to begin your train portion of yourtrip and tap off at your end destination to accurately calculate your fare. Metro's field trip program provides inexpensive travel for King County schools and youth programs such as clubs, scouts, and daycampers. Internet access is required to complete a purchase, but not to activate the ticket, if one decides to save the tickets on the phone. Tickets must be purchased prior to boarding. It is one of the two lines in the Metro Busway system operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation . Enter your email or 10-digit phone number, Learn if you qualify for reduced fares and where to get an RRFP.