Metro discontinued the project in 2005, citing the cost of maintenance and technical problems. 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. 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. The network uses only 67 routes on high-frequency corridors with flat topography to compensate for a reduced number of drivers and workers. Learn if you qualify for reduced fares and where to get an RRFP. ? King County Metro. Metro Flex will help us deliver for those asking for more transportation options. Route numbers in the lower 900s (901931) are used for Dial-a-Ride services, while shuttles connecting to the King County Water Taxi are numbered in the 700s. The Metro-operated Sound Transit Express routes are numbered in the 500s. ORCA is the easiest way to pay your fare. The number is (206) 553-3000. Today, King County Metro operates more than 200 routes, providing local and regional transit service, primarily within its jurisdictional boundaries. Bus Rapid Transit Streetcar/Monorail. The card is free. 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. The ORCA card is all you need to pay your fare on buses and trains in the Puget Sound region. Do I need Wi-Fi or cellular data to buy or activate a Transit GO Ticket? ORCA works on the seven major public transportation agencies serving the region. Theyll receive a nearby pick-up location to meet their driver and may share the ride with other passengers. 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 . Enter your email or 10-digit phone number, Learn if you qualify for reduced fares and where to get an RRFP. [36] All lines use new, low-floor, articulated buses that are painted with a distinct red and yellow livery and have onboard Wi-Fi. 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. ORCA transfer is valid on Sound Transit buses and trains, Seattle Streetcar, King County Water Taxi, and other . In 1939, a new transportation agency, the Seattle Transit System, was formed, which refinanced the remaining debt and began replacing equipment with "trackless trolleys" (as they were known) and motor buses. More about PugetPass. On King County Metro routes, the driver will give you a paper transfer, which you can use to continue your trip on another King County Metro bus within the timeframe indicated on the . When you're ready to board, simply activate the ticket and get on. [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. The Move Ahead Washington transportation package includes more than $640 million over 16 years to support Metro bus and paratransit service, RapidRide and zero-emission bus construction As one new service, Metro Flex replaces three others: Community Ride, Ride Pingo to Transit and Via to Transit. 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. 206-553-3000. See if you qualify, Access Transportation (Eligibility required), If you have a disability that prevents you from using regular bus service, you can apply for Access. More [19][20] It was later renamed the Ride Free Area (RFA). Metro is contracted to operate special custom buses. 545 Redmond - Seattle Adult fares $3.25 Effective September 17, 2022 - March 17, 2023 DOWNTOWN SEATTLE REDMOND MONTLAKE Lake Washington Lake Sammamish Stewart St E Olive Ave & Bellevue Ave James St Madison St S Jackson St Marion St Seneca St 4th Ave & Pine St 4th Ave & Pike St Jefferson St 5th Ave 7th Ave 8th Ave 9th Ave Boren Ave Bellevue . King County Metro Bus (KCM) tickets are valid only on ST Express Routes operated by KCM. The value will automatically be used to supplement a pass if the fare for a trip is worth more than the pass value. [9] By 1967, the agency had completed its $125million sewage treatment system, which diverted 20million gallons (76million liters) that had previously contaminated Lake Washington. Accessibility inquiries1-800-201-4900, TTY Relay 711, -DeSean Quinn, Metro Assistant General Manager of Partnerships and Strategy. 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. Metro's field trip program provides inexpensive travel for King County schools and youth programs such as clubs, scouts, and daycampers. Our riders have embraced our on-demand services, and on March 6, well unite them under our new Metro Flex neighborhood transit service. [15], After completion of the downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel project, attention was drawn again to developing a regional rail system. If boarding through the front door, show the activated ticket on your mobile device screen to the driver. . @KingCountyMetro. [38] The first freeway flyer stop opened in 1975 at Montlake Boulevard and State Route 520. In 1998, the fleet was updated with an Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system that utilizes battery-powered beacons that read the RFID tags and communicate the buses' location to Metro. Day passes (good for round-trip or multi-trip rides) are also available from ticket machines. 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. Services like Metro Flex are part of Metros mobility framework principles something that helps our agency adapt to the changing transportation landscape in an equitable and sustainable ways. We started out by waiving the fee for new youth ORCA cards back in December 2020. . Arriving. Participating agencies only allow customers to use Transit GO Tickets to transfer within their own systems. Currently, Metros on-demand services: Were excited to offer Metro Flex, and we hope youll download and try the new service. Nearby Recently Sold Homes. Everything you need for a great commute is at the tap of your finger. The conductors do not sell tickets. By Michelle Allison, King County Metro General Manager. Collaborating with several local jurisdictions, Metro was an early adopter of Transit Signal Priority (TSP), a system that can extend green lights to allow buses to get through. All riders boarding in downtown must now pay as they board.[18]. [50], In 2007 it cost $3.64 per boarding to deliver service in the West (Seattle) subarea, $4.79 in the South subarea and $7.27 in the East subarea of King County. OPEN TODAY, 3PM TO 4:30PM. Tacoma Link fares continue to be free thanks to funding from the Tacoma Business Improvement Area, Office of Civil Rights, Equity and Inclusion. King County Metro Fare Costs. More than 32 percent of Metros on-demand rides are taken by customers enrolled in reduced-fare programs. When you call Metro, you need to have the following information: Address where you will catch the bus. Now, beginning June 1, Puget Sound area youth (ages 6-18 years) will be able to get their . Were thrilled that our long-standing partner, King County Metro, has chosen Vias TransitTech solutions as the driver for a new future of fully connected, on-demand public transit. Some transit centers also offer a park and ride facility. If you tap before you board, you do not need to tap again on the bus. For convenience, add additional money or a pass to this ORCA Adult card using the same application form. There are no intersystem transfers with the Transit GO Tickets. When boarding the Water Taxi, Access, the Seattle Center Monorail, Via to Transit, and Trailhead Direct, the loading agent or cashier will scan your card. Children 5 and under ride free with a paying adult. Metro operates out of several transit centers located throughout King County, some of which are shared with Sound Transit and other county agencies. Metro was reluctant to adopt low-floor buses, not buying any until 2003. Drivers cannot accept tips. Transit Watch displays, like those found in. [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. Metro offers several types of reduced fare transit cards. See below for a list of low-income adult fares by service. 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. ORCA transfer is valid on Sound Transit buses and trains, Seattle Streetcar, King County Water Taxi, and other transit providers. What transit agencies can I access using a Transit GO Ticket? Routes with Night Owl service include the 7, 36, 48, 49, 120, 124, 160, 161, and the RapidRide A, C, D, and E Lines. If any part of your trip costs more than your transfer fare, you will only have to pay the difference. 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. Metros Innovative Mobility Program is leveraging emerging mobility services and new technologies to give people more ways to get around in King County. The suburban network typically operates on major streets between the regions employment and population centers. Reservations can be requested 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Hamissi Mamba of Baobab Fare competed on Food Network's "Chopped," won and donated $10,000 to Freedom . With almost 220 bus and trolley routes, the King County Metro can get you where you want to go. Use your ORCA card or the Transit GO Ticket app for touch-free payment. Ferry/Water Taxi. Adult ORCA FULL COST. Print and complete the application form and mail it to the ORCA Regional Mail Center. The City of Seattle's transportation benefit district funds service on Night Owl routes that operate entirely within the city limits.[44]. Youth ages 6-18 use an ORCA card, school ID, or simply board. Refresh this page after you have enabled JavaScript. [34] An earlier plan from the 1980s replaced SeattleEastside commuter routes with a set of routes that exclusively served predetermined park and ride lots.[35]. You can also buy tickets through Metros "Marketplace" site on your PC or desktop and have the tickets appear in the app on your mobile device. Home, work or school is just a short, on-demand ride away from your Link light rail station. Please put the ticket in the farebox located next to the driver. * Online at the Reduced Fare Portal ** For King County & Sound Transit only. To replace a lost or stolen card, go to the FAQs on myorca.com. King Street Center 201 S. Jackson St Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 553-3000. SE and 80th Ave SE. Service for growing areas in outlying suburban/[exurban] areas. [47], The cost per boarding for Metro was $4.10 in 2005, compared to $2.50 among the country's 15 largest transit agencies and $2.97, the national average. Charges tickets to your debit or credit card. 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. Youth ages 0-18. Metro is also contracted to operate and maintain Sound Transit's Central Link light rail line and eight of the agency's Sound Transit Express bus routes along with the Seattle Streetcar lines owned by the City of Seattle. Condition. Share. [1][33] In August 2019, the King County Council voted to waive transit fares during snow emergencies. King County Metro will launch Metro Flex on March 6. Metros Customer Service group can assist with most questions regarding functionality, navigation, ticket validation and payment issues. Refresh this page after you have enabled JavaScript. Good for adult fares up to $3.50 when loaded on an ORCA card. Full access permissions are given to the one (1) ORCA account that is the first to link to an ORCA card using the card's security code. In 1978, Metro was the first large transit agency to order high-capacity articulated buses (buses with a rotating joint). [51], King County Metro has a flat rate fare structure for all riders. More about fares and passes. Look for new orange timetables and Metro's special Rider Alert brochure. Metro is working on new ways to improve regional mobility and reduce single-occupant vehicle travel. Metro Flex is an on-demand service that replaces Community Ride, Ride Pingo to Transit and Via to Transit. [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). [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. Will Metro and other agencies that are using Transit GO Tickets still accept cash to ride? If boarding through the rear doors, be prepared to show your activated ticket to a fare enforcement officer, if asked. Our fare engagement program has changed who checks fares and how they do it, the way warnings and ticket resolutions work, and the process for resolving fare non-payment. People on certain government programs and all youth 18 and younger ride free. Learn more. One-way adult fares range between $3.25 and $5.75, depending on how far you travel. Day passes (good for round-trip or multi-trip rides) are also available from ticket machines. I am honored to be the newest leader of King County Metro. Bus service in the tunnel ended on March 23, 2019, as part of the demolition of Convention Place station to prepare for an expansion of the Washington State Convention Center. Riders 65+ and riders with disabilities can ride at a reduced rate with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP). If you have an ORCA card with a monthly pass, you can ride four more weekday trains between Seattle, Edmonds and Everett with Rail Plus. Besides its own transit operations, Metro operates several ST Express bus routes and the Central Link light rail line under a contract with Sound Transit[17] and two streetcar routes under contract with Seattle Streetcar. An RRFP is given to you on an ORCA card. Riders who would otherwise feed cash into the farebox or buy a transit ticket at a vending machine could save several minutes by instead purchasing and displaying their Transit GO Ticket on their smartphone. Adult, Youth and Senior (RRFP) ORCA Cards, Regional Reduced Fare Permit for Riders with a Disability. Public transit operator in King County, Washington, US, A King County Metro bus operating on Route 157 in. A shared vision for Metro's future. 10, 2023. 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. Available on ORCA cards only and is valid for all transit providers in the Central Puget Sound region. Check if your school or employer can help with costs. The Transit GO Ticket app is a great way to get anywhere you want to go in the Seattle area. About King County; Today, some buses lay over along Eastlake Avenue East between trips. 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. Whentransferring from Linkto Sounder train, keep in mind that Sounder train fares are distance based as well. [3] The fleet includes a mix of electric trolleybuses, diesel-electric hybrids, and battery electric buses. Starting September 2022, 18 or younger ride public transportation for free. Port Chester station, on Metro-North's New Haven line, is in the heart of downtown. Currently only credit cards, debit cards and cash uploads are accepted as means of payment. Metro paper transfers are valid on only Metro buses. "Free downtown bus service to be cut in compliance with security plan". After downloading the new Metro Flex app from the app store on their phone, existing and new on-demand riders choose their desired destination. Transferring betweenservices is easy with the ORCA card. 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 . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Low-floor coaches have slightly reduced seating capacity (because the wheelwells intrude further into the passenger compartment) which may have been a concern. 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. When. Cash. King County Metro Transit tickets and transfers . "Metro puts the brakes on free rides at night". . Paper transfers are accepted only on Metro buses when paying with cash. Special stops called "freeway flyers" or freeway stations were constructed to allow efficient transfer between local and express buses. They are twice the one-way fare and are valid for travel only on the date purchased, between the stations printed on the ticket. Only they can have full access permissions and are able to fully manage that card. In April 2006, King County Executive Ron Sims announced a program entitled "Transit Now" that, once approved by voters, would provide for a 20 percent increase in transit service by the end of 2016 over 2006 service levels, measured in annual operating hours. [13][14] In 1992, after gaining approval by popular vote, the municipality's roles and authorities were assumed by the government of King County. Tickets are not available for King County Vanpool and Vanshare. As with other Metro services, reduced fares are available for customers with . Sound Transit requires fares on all buses and trains, except for youth 18 and under and Tacoma Link light rail. Amtrak Cascades train schedule offers flexibility. Suburban routes follow a numbering system: 100199 for South King County, 200299 for the Eastside, 300399 for North King County, and 900999 for dial-a-ride and custom routes. 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. Riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, and the Seattle Streetcar as part of their celebrations . February 18, 2021. Buses at Atlantic Base. Any state or federal document that contains your name and birthdate. Most service is operated in a hub-and-spoke pattern centered either on downtown Seattle or the University of Washington, with lesser amounts of crosstown service. Learn more and apply for a Free Youth Transit Pass here. King County Metro Bus (KCM) tickets are valid only on ST Express Routes operated by KCM. Please contact us. Cards can unlock travel options on region's buses trains and ferries. The ride to Grand Central during peak commuting times takes just under an hour; the one-way fare is $13.75 . Metro's entire fleet has been wheelchair-accessible since 1999. Were excited to introduce this investment to and for the community. 1850 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 . [12], The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle was overseen by a federated board of elected officials, composed of elected officials from cities throughout the region. Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. [68] The system uses RFID tags that are read as buses approach a TSP equipped intersection. Other Metro services operating fare-free include DART, Via to Transit . Transit.Wiki is a free guide to trains, buses, ferries and more. [59], While Downtown Seattle is Metro's main transit hub, transit centers act as smaller regional hubs and are served by many bus routes. .. Last Updated November 28, 2022. 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. Eligible customers can enroll starting October 15, 2020. An RRFP is given to you on an ORCA card. All RapidRide routes have frequent service with frequencies of 10 minutes or better during peak commuting hours and 15 minutes during most off-peak hours and on weekends. 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.