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. JavaScript ", "Rider Alert! 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. Park nearby. 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. Were making major investments so we can offer more and better service.. Our planned investments in a total of 26 RapidRide lines will help bring frequent transit service to 70 percent of King County residents. Learn more. The network uses only 67 routes on high-frequency corridors with flat topography to compensate for a reduced number of drivers and workers. Qualified riders are issued an ORCA card to pay their fare. How Metro is protecting our region's environment. The suburban network typically operates on major streets between the regions employment and population centers. ORCA LIFT products can only be purchased by using an ORCA card. Stops are placed farther apart than typical Metro service to increase speed and reliability. King County Metro, officially the King County Metro Transit Department and often shortened to Metro, is the public transit authority of King County, Washington, which includes the city of Seattle.It is the eighth-largest transit bus agency in the United States. Directs external communications and reputation management for recent winner of the Best Large Transit Agency in North America that delivers hundreds of thousands of . Today, King County Metro operates more than 200 routes, providing local and regional transit service, primarily within its jurisdictional boundaries. King Street Center. The conductors do not sell tickets. The Metro-operated Sound Transit Express routes are numbered in the 500s. King County Metro, officially the King County Metro Transit Department and often shortened to Metro, is the public transit authority of King County, Washington, which includes the city of Seattle. 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. A free transfer is available to cash, ORCA, and mobile app riders. Participating agencies only allow customers to use Transit GO Tickets to transfer within their own systems. Current ORCA cards arent mobile based. Due to bridge/tunnel rehab project, express shuttles . A driver might only be able to spend a quick moment answering a question, but cannot help navigate the app at the risk of delaying transit service. King County Metro will launch Metro Flex on March 6. 10, 2023. 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. On Metro RapidRide buses, the driver will always give you a paper transfer when paying with tickets. [59], While Downtown Seattle is Metro's main transit hub, transit centers act as smaller regional hubs and are served by many bus routes. In 2021, the system had a ridership of 52,368,400, or about 215,700 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2022. Rememberto tap on at your starting station to begin your train portion of yourtrip and tap off at your end destination to accurately calculate your fare. Route Preference: Connect with Metro; . Starting September 1, 2022, riders 18 and younger can take transit for free thanks to Move Ahead Washington, a statewide transportation funding package. In 2010, Metro rolled out a new IP network based ITS infrastructure for its RapidRide service. Learn if you qualify for an ORCA LIFT card and where to get one. Metro's services include electric trolleybuses in Seattle, RapidRide enhanced buses on six lines, commuter routes along the regional freeway system, dial-a-ride routes, paratransit services, and overnight owl bus routes. . Roughly speaking, areas in South King County (from Burien and Des Moines through Renton and Maple Valley) are served by routes numbered in the 100s, areas in East King County (from Renton to Bothell) are served by routes numbered in the 200s, areas in North King County (from Bothell to Shoreline) are served by routes numbered in the 300s. Alerts & Updates. SOLD JUN 15, 2022. Transit fare zones for King County Metro, Community Transit, Pierce County Transit and Sound Transit Purpose: Computing Transit Fare in Automatic Travel Information System (ATIS) Supplemental_Information: None Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: NEWS UPDATE King County Metro Transit has announced that it will be uniting its #OnDemand services under the agency's new #MetroFlex neighbourhood This transfer also acts as your receipt for proof of payment. No. Any state or federal document that contains your name and birthdate. How much time might riders save using Transit GO Tickets? 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. To replace a lost or stolen card, go to the FAQs on myorca.com. For eligible senior, disabled or low income riders, the pass is good for fares up to $1.75. Passport, OR. 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. Tickets must be purchased prior to boarding. "TCC couldn't be more excited about King County Metro's rollout of the zero-youth fare, . 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. 290 W 232nd St Unit 14D, BRONX, NY 10463. Metro customers use these popular services for getting to appointments, school, stores and work, as well as for transferring to bus and light rail. 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. Last Updated October 13, 2022. 1", "Transit Signal Priority tests a success,more signal synchronization planned countywide", City never responded to Metro's request to plow routes, bus chief says, In Transit Newsletter, July/August 2008 issue, "Open Transit Software Foundation History", "Pilot Project for Real-time Bus Information System on Aurora Avenue North", "ORCA smart card limited rollout gets underway", "The evolution of Metro buses - video transcript", Metro Employees Historic Vehicle Association (MEHVA), Central Puget Sound Regional Fare Coordination, Comparative study between Diesel and GM Hybrid bus fleets operating in Seattle (King County), Why You Should Trust King County Metro Trip Planner, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King_County_Metro&oldid=1142522551, Transit authorities with alternative-fuel vehicles, Transportation in King County, Washington, 1973 establishments in Washington (state), Articles with dead external links from August 2018, Articles with dead external links from April 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2019, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2021, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from May 2015, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2009, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Three shuttle services contracted out to private operators, including Via, were merged in 2023 under the "Metro Flex" brand. (Customers may be directed to a bus or light rail option instead with arrival times if theyll be best-served by those modes.). If you tap before you board, you do not need to tap again on the bus. Homes similar to 1777 Madison Ave #32 are listed between $599K to $3M at an average of $1,010 per square foot. Everything you need for a great commute is at the tap of your finger. After downloading the new Metro Flex app from the app store on their phone, existing and new on-demand riders choose their desired destination. "Metro puts the brakes on free rides at night". Tickets stored on the cloud require Wi-Fi or cellular data to access and activate. About King County; Metro Flex is an on-demand service that replaces Community Ride, Ride Pingo to Transit and Via to Transit. One-way fares: $2.75 for adults (19 to 64 years) $1.50 for children (6 to 18 years) $0.50 for adults (65 years and older & people with disabilities) [68] The system uses RFID tags that are read as buses approach a TSP equipped intersection. Will Metro and other agencies that are using Transit GO Tickets still accept cash to ride? Additional improvements such as expanded ride-share and paratransit services in King County. (King County) King County Metro will start rolling out a new on-demand microtransit service, Metro Flex, on March 6th. For fares up to $1.75 $4.00/day. Some previous services required riders to start or end their ride at a transit center or community hub. Info: wmata.com. we can authorize you at an in-person King County Metro Neighborhood Pop-Up, . [37] This practice was pioneered at Seattle Transit as the Blue Streak express bus service running between Northgate Park & Ride and Downtown Seattle. The fare value is held on an ORCA card. Custom routes are also occasionally established to serve as shuttles for large local events, including Seattle Seahawks and Washington Huskies football games. Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris, "As the snow melts, King County Metro running more bus routes Wednesday", "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2022", American Public Transportation Association, "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2021", "Executive Constantine appoints Terry White Metro General Manager", "Metro: Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle", "Federal District Judge William Dwyer rules that Metro Council is unconstitutional on September 6, 1990", "Metro Transit to become independent county department", "Ride Free Area (discontinued Sept. 2012)", "Metro Transit establishes free Magic Carpet zone in downtown Seattle in September 1973", "Seattle Joining Movement for Free Bus Rides", "Readers ask: How are bus-route numbers picked, and why are empty buses in the HOV lane? The bus stop color groupings are identified by a colored plate installed above or on the side of the bus stop sign. Rememberto tap onat your starting station andtap off at your end destination for both Link and Sounderto accurately calculate your total fare. As of 2017, King County Metro operates the 10th largest fleet of buses in the United States, with a total of 1,540 buses. Low-floor coaches have slightly reduced seating capacity (because the wheelwells intrude further into the passenger compartment) which may have been a concern. Intended to encourage transit usage, improve accessibility and encourage downtown shopping, the zone was created in September 1973 and was originally called the "Magic Carpet" zone. Paper transfers are accepted only on Metro buses when paying with cash. Transit GO Ticket: Using the app (English), Find certified small business contractors and suppliers. We think our on-demand services will now be even better and more convenient, and we urge riders to download the Metro Flex app. Riders 65+ or riders with a disability can qualify for a reduced rate with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP). -Krista Glotzbach, Head of Via Western U.S. Partnerships. Can my driver help me if the Transit GO Ticket app isnt working? Where. 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. When you exit Link and Sounder, re-tap your ORCA card to complete the trip. When applying for an RRFP, be sure to bring proof of age (65+), or proof of a qualifying condition or Medicare card. [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]. Custom routes that serve schools in Bellevue and on Mercer Island are numbered in the 800s (823, 824, 886892) and routes serving the private Lakeside School and University Prep numbered in the higher 900s (980995). The authority was formed after civic leaders, including those in the Municipal League, noted that solutions to regional issues were complicated by local boundaries and a plethora of existing special districts. 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. Sanger, S.L (August 21, 1987). As with other Metro services, reduced fares are available for customers with disabilities, customers with lower incomes, and seniors. When offices first went remote, commuting dwindled, cutting into bus and light rail revenue that helped support operating costs.Those continuing to ride didn't have to pay for a while, either, as King County Metro halted passenger payments and Sound Transit stopped checking for ORCA cards. Updated: May 29, 2014. Call Customer Service at 206-553-3000 (WA Relay: 711). Pay as you enter the bus with the following options: Sound Transit does not have a regional bus ticket program. Enter your email address and name below to be the first to know. Its critical we move riders where they need to get to, when they need to travel. 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 this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Whatever the reason for the delay, Metro has now embraced low-floor buses and all new fleet additions since 2003 have been low-floor, with the last high-floor buses retired in 2020. Senior/disabled fares (age 65+ or qualifying . Metro Flex delivers flexible, reliable transportation for the same cost as a Metro bus fare. We connect people to their communities. Please plan your trip with enough time to complete your transaction prior to boarding. As part of the 2021-2022 King County budget, funds are available for Metro to examine expanding mobility solutions in Skyway. 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. [citation needed] Metro Transit introduced its new services in September 1973, including a ride-free area in downtown and express routes on freeways (known as "Flyer" routes),[11] and a unified numbering scheme in 1977 that replaced named routes. To add money to an existing card, go to myorca.com. Fare collection is already taking place on Sound Transit Express buses and Link light rail. If the actual fare exceeds the fare value on the pass, a fare upgrade is required. ? The suburban system is more numerically organized. King County Department of Transportation. 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. 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. Transit vouchers, Apple Pay and PayPal are not accepted at this time. Early lifts were severely flawed, but by the mid-1980s the lifts were generally reliable and were ordered on all new buses. Condition. If your phone has location services enabled, the app will select the nearest stores to you.