ORCA Opportunity Youth Program
September 29, 2022
What's Happening Now?
Free youth fares have begun! Riders 18 and younger can take transit on services run by King County Metro, King County Water Taxi, Seattle Streetcar, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit, and Via to Transit for free.
Washington State Ferries will adopt free youth fares for vehicle passengers and those walking-on beginning October 1, 2022. Youth will need to tap on with their ORCA Youth card or ask for a youth ticket at the ticket booth as youth tickets will no longer be available at self-serve kiosks and online. Drivers 18 and younger will be required to pay the adult vehicle and driver fare.
The Seattle Center Monorail will not offer free fares at this time. If you tap your ORCA card on the Monorail you will be charged a youth fare.
If you are a Center School student, an additional barcode sticker will be provided to you. You can tap this barcode sticker to take the Seattle Center Monorail for free. You can pick up your sticker from Kathy Webb in the attendance office.
What is the ORCA Youth Program?
Starting in September 2022, many transit agencies across the Puget Sound region will begin allowing all youth (18 or younger) to ride for free. This is thanks to the Move Ahead Washington statewide transportation funding package. Visit the Free Youth Transit Pass webpage for more details about how this will work.
All current ORCA Youth cards can be used as free youth transit passes regardless of the expiration date on the back. Youth 13-18 will be encouraged to continue to use an ORCA card or carry their student ID to ride transit, but youth who do not have an ORCA card will still be able to board transit for free. If you are aged 13-18 on September 1, 2022 please complete the form on the Free Youth Transit Pass webpage indicating your birthdate before June 30, 2023.
SDOT will no longer provide ORCA cards to youth 18 and younger. Please visit MyORCA.com to request a new card if you do not have one.
How to Get Your ORCA Youth Card
If you received an ORCA Youth Card from your school last year, please keep it to use as your new Free Youth Transit Pass! If you need a new ORCA card, you can visit MyORCA.com and request a Youth Transit Pass from King County Metro.
How to Use Your Free Youth Transit Pass
Your ORCA card can be used to take transit on services run by King County Metro, King County Water Taxi, Seattle Streetcar, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit, and Via to Transit. The ORCA cards will adopt free fares on Washington State Ferries beginning October 1, 2022.
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.
Take a look at our informational flyer on using your card HERE or watch a short video from our friends at King County Metro.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I lose or damage my card?
All card replacements will be handled by King County Metro. You can request a new Youth card at MyORCA.com.
My card says that it’ll expire soon. Why am I being asked to keep it?
Washington State recently approved a new measure to allow all youth 18 and under to ride transit for free beginning in fall 2022. To ride, you will need a Youth Transit Pass, but if you already have an ORCA Youth Card, that will function as a Youth Transit Pass. Click HERE for more information from King County Metro.
I don’t have an ORCA Youth Card yet. Can I apply for one?
You can request a card from King County Metro through MyORCA.com. If you are a Seattle Public School student, please check with your school administrator as they may have a card on-site for you.
Why won't my ORCA Youth Card work on the Seattle Center Monorail?
Fares are not free for youth on the Seattle Center Monorail at this time. However, Center School students will be given a special barcode sticker to use as a free pass on the Monorail.
Contact Us
Email: ORCAOpportunity@seattle.gov
Text or call: (206) 256-6722