[8][10], After two failed attempts to enable it to build a regional rapid transit system, it was authorized to operate a regional bus system in 1972. [15], After completion of the downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel project, attention was drawn again to developing a regional rail system. Monitored weekdays 6am-6pm. Current fare for youth is $0 for ages 0-5 and $1.50 for ages 6-18. Drivers cannot accept tips. Bus, paratransit, water taxi & vanpools across Seattle & King County. For the first time in nearly three decades, King County Metro riders will enjoy completely new state-of-the-art electric trolleys in downtown Seattle and nearby neighborhoods starting August 19. Senior/disabled (with Regional Reduced Fare Permit) $1. One-way adult fares range from $2.25 to $3.50 depending on how far you travel. Due to bridge/tunnel rehab project, express shuttles operate btwn Pentagon, Smithsonian Archives & Metro Center. Metro has rider information specialists that you can call anytime. Sidewalk closure, new pedestrian detour and movement of bus stop. 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. Show your screen to the fare officer when boarding the Water Taxi. 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 . [32] The network plan was first implemented during the February 2019 snowstorm. A regional monthly pass is available to ORCA card holders. The Metro-operated Sound Transit Express routes are numbered in the 500s. When applying for an RRFP, be sure to bring proof of age (65+), or proof of a qualifying condition or Medicare card. Over 50 data sets are available, including bus stops, bus routes, adverse weather routes, time points, neighborhoods, fares, bike lockers, fare zones, transit centers, park and rides and MORE. They are twice the one-way fare and are valid for travel only on the date purchased, between the stations printed on the ticket. Buy a paper ticket at a pay station, located at each . Do I need Wi-Fi or cellular data to buy or activate a Transit GO Ticket? Metro also operates custom routes to major employment sites (like Group Health Cooperative in Tukwila and the Boeing Everett Factory). The ORCA card is all you need to pay your fare on buses and trains in the Puget Sound region. 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 . For fares up to $1.75 $4.00/day. Sound Transit requires fares on all buses and trains, except for youth 18 and under and Tacoma Link light rail. Stops with heavier ridership have "stations" with an awning, seating, lighting, real time information signs to communicate estimate arrival times of RapidRide buses. Homes similar to 1777 Madison Ave #32 are listed between $599K to $3M at an average of $1,010 per square foot. King County Metro formally began operations on January 1, 1973, but can trace its roots to the Seattle Transit System, founded in 1939, and Overlake Transit Service, a private operator founded in 1927 to serve the Eastside. To replace a lost or stolen card, go to the FAQs on myorca.com. The tunnel was closed between fall 2005 and fall 2007 to prepare it for light rail trains. Implementation of RapidRide routes in five arterial corridors. Buses range in size from 30-foot (9.1m) shuttles to articulated buses on higher-demand routes. Routes with Night Owl service include the 7, 36, 48, 49, 120, 124, 160, 161, and the RapidRide A, C, D, and E Lines. Just click on a decade below to read about them. It uses $45million in new annual funds from a 0.1% sales tax raise and a $60 annual car-tab fee to add King County Metro bus service within the City of Seattle.[67]. 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. If any part of your trip costs more than your transfer fare, you will only have to pay the difference. It was launched for public use on April 20, 2009, along with six other transit agencies in the region. I'm also fortunate to work alongside more than 5,000 mission-driven . King County Metro accepts cash, ORCA cards, or the Transit GO Ticket mobile app. If you tap before you board, you do not need to tap again on the bus. Bring exact change - the driver is not able to make change for you. Metro's field trip program provides inexpensive travel for King County schools and youth programs such as clubs, scouts, and daycampers. Current ORCA cards arent mobile based. 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. Youth 18 and under ride for free on all Sound Transit services. ORCA is the easiest way to pay your fare. An RRFP is given to you on an ORCA card. The City of Seattle's transportation benefit district funds service on Night Owl routes that operate entirely within the city limits.[44]. Buses will communicate with roadside equipment using 802.11 wireless technology on the 4.9 GHz public safety band. 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. Enter your email address and name below to be the first to know. [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]. Foster, George (February 4, 1994). Metro, as the authority came to be called, was restricted to sewage management and given a smaller suburban jurisdiction ahead of the successful September referendum. (522, 542, 545, 550, 554). [61] By 1988, it had 37 lots across King County, mostly concentrated on the Eastside, and monitored property crimes with a team of four police officers and hired guards. When you exit Link and Sounder, re-tap your ORCA card to complete the trip. Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. It will also be used in conjunction with GPS technology to provide frequent and accurate location updates for next bus arrival signs at RapidRide stations. Charges tickets to your debit or credit card. Metro employs 2,716 full-time and part-time operators and operates 1,540 buses. Currently only credit cards, debit cards and cash uploads are accepted as means of payment. King County Metro is looking to reform its transit safety, security, and fare enforcement policies and practices through the SaFE reform initiative. 1850 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 . $749,000. For RapidRide buses, the streetcar, Link light rail and Sounder trains, show your screen to the fare enforcement officer, if asked. For convenience, add additional money or a pass to this ORCA Adult card using the same application form. [37] This practice was pioneered at Seattle Transit as the Blue Streak express bus service running between Northgate Park & Ride and Downtown Seattle. Fares on the King County Metro varies depending on your age. 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. [62] In the 1980s, Metro proposed co-locating its park and rides with commercial developments to encourage transit-oriented development and attract more riders. The fare value is held on an ORCA card. Learn about all the different types of fares and passes. If you are transferring to another Metro bus or Metro RapidRide bus, show your activated ticket to the driver when boarding, or fare enforcement officer if asked. 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. In 1918, the city of Seattle bought many parts of the Seattle Street Railway, on terms which left the transit operation in financial trouble. Some transit centers also offer a park and ride facility. 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. Eligible customers can enroll starting October 15, 2020. It is one of the two lines in the Metro Busway system operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation . Metro operates out of several transit centers located throughout King County, some of which are shared with Sound Transit and other county agencies. Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Metro Transit Division. King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Kitsap counties together have an estimated 645,000 youth aged 6-18. This interest led to the formation of the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (more commonly known as Sound Transit) which holds primary responsibility for planning and building high capacity transit in the counties of King, Pierce and Snohomish, in western Washington state.[16]. For nearly two years, Sound Transit has been working to implement meaningful changes to our fare compliance policies and practices. King County Metro. The system will extend the legacy RFID-based TSP system. Port Chester station, on Metro-North's New Haven line, is in the heart of downtown. [73][74], RapidRide stations as well as major bus stops in Downtown Seattle are also receiving what Metro calls a "Tech Pylon", a free standing wireless-capable kiosk, that has next bus arrival signs and an ORCA validator for off-board fare payment.[75][76]. Special stops called "freeway flyers" or freeway stations were constructed to allow efficient transfer between local and express buses. Learn if you qualify for an ORCA LIFT card and where to get one. in your browser. August 28, 2020. How is the Transit GO Ticket different than an ORCA card? King County will also offer virtual Neighborhood Pop-Ups online. One-way adult fares range between $3.25 and $5.75, depending on how far you travel. Scroll down for a list of Fares byservice. Call 206-553-3000 for assistance. 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. Transit GO Ticket: Using the app (English), Find certified small business contractors and suppliers. Transferring betweenservices is easy with the ORCA card. This project beautifies our neighborhoods, helps deter vandalism and connects communities to public art. Check out the "Earn" section of the app to learn how you can earn rewards points and check out the "Redeem" section of the app to use your earned points toward free mobile transit tickets or credits for other transportation services such as bike-share and scooter-share. 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. Please put the ticket in the farebox located next to the driver. The station opened on July 1, 1977, part of the 11.8-mile (19.0 km) initial segment of the Blue Line between National Airport and Stadium-Armory stations that opened that day.. Virginia Railway Express began service in June 1992, with its Crystal City station about 0.2 miles (0.32 km) northeast of the Metro entrance. The purpose of the project is to implement a coordinated regional transit network on the Eastside that gets people where they need and want to go. Our riders have embraced our on-demand services, and on March 6, well unite them under our new Metro Flex neighborhood transit service. See below for a list of senior/disabled fares by service. Route Preference: [58] The tunnel is now exclusively used by light rail trains, and its ownership is planned to be transferred to Sound Transit in 2022. 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. 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]. King County Executive Dow Constantine announced today that Metro will join other regional transit agencies to provide free rides this New Year's Eve. Custom routes are also occasionally established to serve as shuttles for large local events, including Seattle Seahawks and Washington Huskies football games. 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. 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. With our belief in mobility as a human right, we focus first on safety, equity, and sustainability. What transit agencies can I access using a Transit GO Ticket? [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]. 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. Qualified riders are issued an ORCA card to pay their fare. 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. Regional Day Pass. Adult fares (age 19-64) Riders age 19 to 64 pay a fare depending on the type of trip and distance travelled. 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. On Metro RapidRide buses, or when travelling on Third Avenue in downtown Seattle, the driver will always give you a paper transfer when paying with cash. Find certified small business contractors and suppliers. Whentransferring from Linkto Sounder train, keep in mind that Sounder train fares are distance based as well. Have questions about fares? Here's free access to a wealth of data from King County to create custom transit maps. Three shuttle services contracted out to private operators, including Via, were merged in 2023 under the "Metro Flex" brand. 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. (Customers may be directed to a bus or light rail option instead with arrival times if theyll be best-served by those modes.). Learn more about theRegional Reduced Fare Permit. @kcmetroalerts. 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. King County Metro Bus (KCM) tickets are valid only on ST Express Routes operated by KCM. Service for growing areas in outlying suburban/[exurban] areas. You can find more information on King County's website or by calling (206) 553-3000. [citation needed], On September 29, 2012, the Ride Free Area was eliminated. Time. *Downtown Tunnel Stations include:Westlake, University St., Pioneer Square and International District. The suburban system is more numerically organized. In August 2018, the county council approved legislation to separate Metro from the Department of Transportation, creating the King County Metro Transit Department effective January 1, 2019. Transit GO Rewards is an innovative mobility rewards program to encourage smart and sustainable travel choices that reduce traffic congestion and transportation climate impacts.