Learn more, Youth are encouragedbut not requiredto get a free Youth ORCA card Learn more, Subsidized Annual Pass (Eligibility required), This pass allows qualified riders to travel on select transit in our region for free for up to 12 calendar months, provided eligibility requirements are met. Transit Milestones - King County [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. More about PugetPass. Roughly speaking, areas in South King County (from Burien and Des Moines through Renton and Maple Valley) are served by routes numbered in the 100s, areas in East King County (from Renton to Bothell) are served by routes numbered in the 200s, areas in North King County (from Bothell to Shoreline) are served by routes numbered in the 300s. [40][41], Metro uses skip-stop spacing on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Avenues in Downtown Seattle, whereby buses skip every other bus stop. Before boarding Link light rail, RapidRide, the Sounder commuter train, and the Seattle Streetcar, tap your ORCA card on a yellow card reader outside/on the platform. in your browser. August 28, 2020. King Street Center 201 S. Jackson St Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 553-3000 Most lines (except the B and F lines) have late night and early morning service. except for youth 18 and under and Tacoma Link light rail. enabled Call Customer Service at 206-553-3000 (WA Relay: 711). During the 2019-20 school year, 34% of King County's students qualified for free and reduced-price . [citation needed]. Homes similar to 1777 Madison Ave #32 are listed between $599K to $3M at an average of $1,010 per square foot. Ferry/Water Taxi. Before the Free Youth Transit Pass, King County Metro fare for youth was $0 for ages 0-5 and $1.50 for ages 6-18, or $54 for a monthly youth pass. As with other Metro services, reduced fares are available for customers with disabilities, customers with lower incomes, and seniors. Check Twitter feeds for transit agencies for current service updates prior to travel. More about fares and passes. $749,000. For RapidRide buses, the streetcar, Link light rail and Sounder trains, show your screen to the fare enforcement officer, if asked. [15], After completion of the downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel project, attention was drawn again to developing a regional rail system. Ways to Save - myORCA You'll upload this with your application. The project severed access to the north portal of the tunnel, while an upcoming light rail construction project in 2020 will also cause other disruptions. Metro is the leading public transit agency of King County. Bus - Travel Options - King County Metro Transit A free transfer is available to cash, ORCA, and mobile app riders. Transit Alerts at. If you are transferring, ask the driver for a paper transfer at the time you pay. King County Metro Announces Fare-Free New Year's Eve If you are paying with a ticket and use more than one transit system you must pay a fare each time you board a different bus. Advance equity. The bus stop color groupings are identified by a colored plate installed above or on the side of the bus stop sign. Riders 65+ or riders with a disability can qualify for a reduced rate with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP). As with other Metro services, reduced fares are available for customers with . To provide an even better, more consistent experience for riders, three existing services Community Ride, Ride Pingo to Transit and Via to Transit will become Metro Flex. Will Transit GO Tickets save money and how? Metro also operates custom routes to major employment sites (like Group Health Cooperative in Tukwila and the Boeing Everett Factory). Can I transfer with a Transit GO Ticket like I do with e-purse on an ORCA card? Use your smart phone to buy and use transit tickets. Rememberto tap onat your starting station andtap off at your end destination for both Link and Sounderto accurately calculate your total fare. Metroway bus rapid transit service began on August 24, 2014, with a stop on . The card is free. Have questions about fares? Metro's entire fleet has been wheelchair-accessible since 1999. Learn more about ORCA LIFT. For almost 40 years, until 2012,[18] most of downtown Seattle was designated as a zero-fare zone, an area in which all rides on Metro vehicles were free, known as the "Ride Free" Area. Updated: May 29, 2014. In order to realize this growth, Transit Now proposed an increase in the local option sales tax for transit of one-tenth of one percent. We started out by waiving the fee for new youth ORCA cards back in December 2020. Not good on Kitsap Fast Ferries or Washington State Ferries. Current ORCA cards arent mobile based. The pass is sold at prices range from $18 to $171 for fare values range from $0.50 to $4.75. Dept. The system will extend the legacy RFID-based TSP system. Passport, OR. They are twice the one-way fare and are valid for travel only on the date purchased, between the stations printed on the ticket. Metros Customer Service group can assist with most questions regarding functionality, navigation, ticket validation and payment issues. The Metro-operated Seattle Streetcar routes are numbered in the 90s, with the South Lake Union Streetcar numbered 98 and the former bus replacement for the Waterfront Streetcar numbered 99. King County Metro Customer Community - Force In 2021, the system had a ridership of 52,368,400, or about 215,700 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2022. These routes require significant deadheading (particularly on the one-way routes), as well as a very large part-time labor force, both of which drive up costs. To take advantage of other electronic transfers and other features, one should use ORCA. How to ride | Sound Transit Some transit centers also offer a park and ride facility. Washington State Department of Transportation. Bob Lane, Better Than Promised: An Informal History of the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Seattle: King County Department of Metropolitan Services, 1995). Transfer fare is calculated and applied automatically between services. Home, work or school is just a short, on-demand ride away from your Link light rail station. All county transit services including buses, Access paratransit, Vanpool, and Via to Transit will be requiring full fares. Metro has 237 bus routes that combine service patterns typical of both city and suburban bus networks, carrying over 400,000 daily passengers as of 2019[update]. The J Line (formerly the Silver Line, sometimes listed as Line 910 / 950) is a 38-mile (61.2 km) bus rapid transit route that runs between El Monte, Downtown Los Angeles and Gardena, with some trips continuing to San Pedro. Metro's cost per boarding is 38% above the national average. Transfers are auto-calculated, and exact change isn't necessary when you use ORCA. King County Metro and Sound Transit have partnered to create a new, subsidized annual pass program, allowing qualified riders to travel on select transit in our region with 100% subsidized fares. Fares & ORCA. Several routes were also split between trunk routes using articulated buses and shuttles to serve hillier areas with smaller buses. Thanks to action by the state Legislature, King County Metro soon will be moving forward with a zero fare for youth and accelerate its progress on zero-emission bus projects. Route 149 serves the rural southeastern corner of King County. King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Kitsap counties together have an estimated 645,000 youth aged 6-18. King County Executive Dow Constantine announced today that Metro will join other regional transit agencies to provide free rides this New Year's Eve. 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. Seattle, King County, WA, USA kingcounty.gov/metro Joined December 2009. Metro Will Continue Fare-Free Transit through September, but Budget It operates between Chatsworth and North Hollywood stations in the San Fernando Valley.The 18-mile (29 km) G Line uses a dedicated, exclusive right-of-way for the entirety of its route with 17 stations located at . Eligible customers can enroll starting October 15, 2020. START. (King County) King County Metro will start rolling out a new on-demand microtransit service, Metro Flex, on March 6th. King County Metro (@KingCountyMetro) / Twitter King County will also offer virtual Neighborhood Pop-Ups online. 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. Custom routes are also occasionally established to serve as shuttles for large local events, including Seattle Seahawks and Washington Huskies football games. Metro operates many peak-hour commuter routes serving park and rides that use 244.52 miles of the region's network of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. Whether your company numbers 5 or 55,000, you can take advantage of our transportation pass programs to give your employees the commuting power and flexibility they need that comes with every ORCA pass. King County Metro, officially the King County Metro Transit Department and often shortened to Metro, is the public transit authority of King County, Washington, which includes the city of Seattle. Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris, "As the snow melts, King County Metro running more bus routes Wednesday", "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2022", American Public Transportation Association, "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2021", "Executive Constantine appoints Terry White Metro General Manager", "Metro: Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle", "Federal District Judge William Dwyer rules that Metro Council is unconstitutional on September 6, 1990", "Metro Transit to become independent county department", "Ride Free Area (discontinued Sept. 2012)", "Metro Transit establishes free Magic Carpet zone in downtown Seattle in September 1973", "Seattle Joining Movement for Free Bus Rides", "Readers ask: How are bus-route numbers picked, and why are empty buses in the HOV lane? [8] The state legislature approved the formation of a combined transportation, sewage, and planning authority in 1957, but the countywide referendum was rejected by a majority outside of Seattle. [32] The network plan was first implemented during the February 2019 snowstorm. As part of the 2021-2022 King County budget, funds are available for Metro to examine expanding mobility solutions in Skyway. Metro Flex is an on-demand service that replaces Community Ride, Ride Pingo to Transit and Via to Transit. Riders enrolled in Transit Go Rewards can earn reward points by taking qualifying trips and making smart travel choices. Keep it with you at all times when riding because a fare enforcement officer may ask to see it. Starting September 1, 2022, riders 18 and younger can take transit for free thanks to Move Ahead Washington, a statewide transportation funding package. Senior/disabled fares (age 65+ or qualifying . ORCA works on the seven major public transportation agencies serving the region. 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. Metro Transit buses; Metro Community Shuttles; Community Vans; Community Ride; Trailhead Direct; Via to Transit; Access services; King County Water Taxi; Kitsap Transit buses, Fast Ferries and Foot Ferries; Sound Transit (Express buses, Link light rail and Sounder Train); and Seattle Streetcar accept the Transit GO Ticket. The Transit Now ordinance,[66] passed by the King County Council on September 5, 2006, and signed by Executive Sims on September 11, 2006, forwarded the tax proposition to the voters and identified the programs to which operating revenue generated from the sales tax increase could be appropriated. When offices first went remote, commuting dwindled, cutting into bus and light rail revenue that helped support operating costs.Those continuing to ride didn't have to pay for a while, either, as King County Metro halted passenger payments and Sound Transit stopped checking for ORCA cards. Learn more Adult Orca. This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 21:53. One-way senior/disabled Link fares are $1 for all trips, regardless of the distance traveled. Whatever the reason for the delay, Metro has now embraced low-floor buses and all new fleet additions since 2003 have been low-floor, with the last high-floor buses retired in 2020. [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. Call 206-553-3000 for assistance. ", "Rider Alert! Please have the exact fare ready (you can overpay if you don't have the exact amount); Put your money in the farebox located next to the driver. ORCA cards now free for youth riders. How to ride the bus | Choose Your Way Bellevue In 2021, the system had a ridership of 52,368,400, or about 215,700 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2022. When applying for an RRFP, be sure to bring proof of age (65+), or proof of a qualifying condition or Medicare card. 201 S. Jackson St. Seattle, WA 98104-3856. Monitored weekdays 6am-6pm. The measure was approved by 56.62% of King County voters in the November 2007 general election. Metros Innovative Mobility Program is leveraging emerging mobility services and new technologies to give people more ways to get around in King County. Metros on-demand services were created with and designed to serve priority populations. Alerts & Updates. It was launched for public use on April 20, 2009, along with six other transit agencies in the region. One-way adult fares range between $3.25 and $5.75, depending on how far you travel. To view this site, you need In addition to credit cards, debit cards and cash uploads, are there any other payment forms accepted for purchasing Transit GO Tickets? Fares, Routes & Service - Programs & Projects - King County Metro For convenience, add additional money or a pass to this ORCA Adult card using the same application form. Metro Flex: On-demand transit services now even better, united under 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 . King County Metro will launch Metro Flex on March 6. On buses, show your screen to the driver when boarding.*. Can I buy an ORCA LIFT reduced fare ticket with the Transit GO Ticket app? A driver might only be able to spend a quick moment answering a question, but cannot help navigate the app at the risk of delaying transit service. 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. [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]. Bus, paratransit, water taxi & vanpools across Seattle & King County. Metro is working on new ways to improve regional mobility and reduce single-occupant vehicle travel. King County Metro, officially the King County Metro Transit Department and often shortened to Metro, is the public transit authority of King County, Washington, which includes the city of Seattle.It is the eighth-largest transit bus agency in the United States. Tacoma Link fares continue to be free thanks to funding from the Tacoma Business Improvement Area. "TCC couldn't be more excited about King County Metro's rollout of the zero-youth fare, . Condition. Transit GO Ticket focuses on helping infrequent transit users reduce the usage of cash on buses by providing a simple easy mobile alternative. A horse-drawn streetcar rail system debuted in Seattle in 1884 as the Seattle Street Railway. One-way fares: $2.75 for adults (19 to 64 years) $1.50 for children (6 to 18 years) $0.50 for adults (65 years and older & people with disabilities) Reservations can be requested 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. When youre ready to board, simply activate the ticket in your app and board the Metro bus. Enjoy the ride. Low-floor coaches have slightly reduced seating capacity (because the wheelwells intrude further into the passenger compartment) which may have been a concern. [9] By 1967, the agency had completed its $125million sewage treatment system, which diverted 20million gallons (76million liters) that had previously contaminated Lake Washington. We bring the ride to you and take you to the Sounder Train, buses, jobs and more in your neighborhood. [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). Day passes (good for round-trip or multi-trip rides) are also available from ticket machines. King County Metro - Wikipedia Your ticket is good for unlimited transfers for up to two hours from the time you activate it. Metro Flex delivers flexible, reliable transportation for the same cost as a Metro bus fare. After suspending fares in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, King County Metro will resume collecting fares on Thursday, October 1. 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. (Customers may be directed to a bus or light rail option instead with arrival times if theyll be best-served by those modes.). King Street Center 201 S. Jackson St . Port Chester, N.Y.: A 'Tiny Little Village' With a Lot of Development The expiration date and time are displayed at the bottom of the screen. 10:32 a.m. 11:02 a.m. Leaving. Fast and Easy! Yes, cash will continue to be accepted on Metro buses, and via ticket vending machines for other transit services. [1] The city network was descended in large part from the Seattle Transit system of converted streetcar routes. 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. Current fare for youth is $0 for ages 0-5 and $1.50 for ages 6-18. 206-553-3000. In the early 1970s, the private Metropolitan faced bankruptcy because of low ridership. Tickets must be purchased prior to boarding. In 1979, the agency ordered some of the first wheelchair lift equipped coaches in the nation,[78][79] promising a completely new level of independence for disabled residents. Find certified small business contractors and suppliers. 156th Ave NE & Redmond Technology Station - Bay 8 Sr 520 & NE 40th St Bellevue Transit Center - Bay 6 Southport Dr N & Lake Washington Blvd N Park Ave N & N 8th St Renton Transit Center - Bay 4 Sr 167 & SW 7th St Central Ave N & S 228th St Kent Sounder Station - Bay 9 4th Ave N & W Smith St Auburn Park . Metro's highest cost route by this measure, route 149 (Renton Transit Center to Black Diamond), had a peak time cost of $34.47 per boarding. Deliver an average travel time of 7.5 minutes.