ORCA Card - what it is and how to get one

ORCA vending machine

ORCA Card: How to - Part 1

By Brian Doennebrink

ORCA is an acronym for “One Regional Card for All”. It uses technology to account for different fares as well as handling transfers between the participant agencies.

Those agencies are:

• King County Metro Transit, Community Transit, 
• Sound Transit, 
• Everett Transit, 
• Kitsap Transit, 
• Pierce Transit, 
• and, for walk-on passengers only, Washington State Ferries.

Here’s how you get started.

Decide what card you want. There are three types. 

1. Adult (ages 19-64) cards, which are available:
1. Online
2. At ticket vending machines (Edmonds station, Northgate Transit Center, and at the stations in the downtown transit tunnel are some examples) 
3. At customer service offices: King Street Center (2101 S. Jackson) Westlake station (west end of mezzanine near Macy’s) and the RideStore at Lynnwood Transit Center are three. The complete list 
4. At a retailer. They accept cash and may or may not accept other payment options. The nearest local options are Safeways in Kenmore (6850 NE Bothell Way, Shoreline (either 152nd and Aurora, 10am -9pm or at 175th/15th in North City), and the QFC at 600 NW Richmond Beach Road (11am-7pm). Except where noted, cards may be purchased from 9am to 9pm daily. 
5. By phone: 888-988-6722, TTY Relay: 711, Non English:800-823-9230 (Monday - Friday, 8am to 5pm except holidays) 
6. By mail
2. Youth (age 6-18): either provide proof of age (student ID, WA ID, birth certificate) or bring the youth to an ORCA customer service office (see 3. above). Alternatively, you can mail the proof with a completed order form (see v above). 
3. Senior or disabled: you need to visit a customer service office during their regular business hours (iii above) and show proof of age or disability or a valid Medicare card to get the ORCA Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) card. If you plan to set up an online My ORCA account, wait until you have your RRFP card.