Seattle Public Preschools Partnership

The Seattle Department of Transportation is partnering with the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) to provide a free transit benefit to income eligible households enrolled in the Seattle Preschool Program. Any household with a child receiving free preschool automatically qualifies for this benefit. 

Eligible families will be mailed one (1) ORCA card to be used on all regional public transit. The ORCA card can be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for unlimited rides through August 31, 2025. 

How to Get Your ORCA Card

Income eligibile households attending Seattle Public Preschool will automatically be mailed an ORCA card after they enroll in preschool. Cards will be mailed to the household address on file with the Seattle Preschool Program. If you receive free preschool and have not received your ORCA card by September 7, 2024, please email DOT_TAP@seattle.gov or you can call or text us at ((206) 256-6722.

How to Use Your ORCA Card

Your ORCA card can be used on all transit services provided by King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Seattle Monorail, and Seattle Streetcar.

Bus: Tap the ORCA card against the reader after getting on the bus. Pull the yellow cord before your stop to indicate to the driver you would like to exit.  

Light Rail & Streetcar: Tap the ORCA card on the platform before getting on the train and a second time after you leave the train. 

ORCA cards cannot be tapped multiple times on a single journey and each rider must tap their own ORCA card. Youth 18 and younger can ride transit for free without tapping an ORCA card.

How Can I Replace a Lost Card?

We're happy to mail you a replacement card for free to your home address! Just email us at DOT_TAP@seattle.gov or you can call or text us at ((206) 256-6722 with your name and mailing address so that we can verify your participation.

Contact Us

Email: DOT_TAP@seattle.gov 
Text/Call: 206-256-ORCA (6722)