How to pay
Paying for your ride is easy with an ORCA card. Learn about the fare and pass options that are best for you.

Fares

The Sound Transit Board has approved a new flat fare system for Link light rail. The adult fare, per trip, will be $3. The flat fare will go into effect in the fall of 2024, coinciding with the opening of the Lynnwood Link Extension. The change simplifies fares, allows for fare capping in the future, and addresses equity concerns.

Read the fare engagement report

Sound Transit requires fares on all buses and trains, except for youth 18 and under. Use your ORCA card or the Transit GO Ticket app for touch-free payment. Scroll down for a list of Fares by service.

Types of fares

Riders age 19 to 64 pay a fare depending on the type of trip.

See below for a list of adult fares by service.

With the ORCA LIFT card, income qualified adult riders can get big savings on fares for ST Express buses, Sounder and Link light rail trains. Learn more about ORCA LIFT

See below for a list of low-income adult fares by service.

Riders 65+ or riders with a disability can qualify for a reduced rate with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP). An RRFP is given to you on an ORCA card. When applying for an RRFP, be sure to bring proof of age (65+), or proof of a qualifying condition or Medicare card. The permit is free, a replacement will cost $3. Learn if you qualify for reduced fares and where to get an RRFP

See below for a list of senior/disabled fares by service.

Youth 18 and under ride for free on all Sound Transit services. 

Learn more and apply for a Free Youth Transit Pass here.     

Ride on all buses and trains for one calendar month with a regional pass. Buy a pass that represents the per-trip value of the trip you usually take. The pass is good for rides up to the per-trip value. If your trip costs more than the pass value, the remainder will be subtracted from your E-purse balance. Find more information on how to add passes and E-purse value to your ORCA card here.

Trip value Pass total cost per month
$0.50 $18.00
$0.75 $27.00
$1.00 $36.00
$1.25 $45.00
$1.50 $54.00
$1.75 $63.00
$2.00 $72.00
$2.25 $81.00
$2.50 $90.00
$2.75 $99.00
$3.00 $108.00
$3.25 $117.00
$3.50 $126.00
$3.75 $135.00
$4.00 $144.00
$4.25 $153.00
$4.50 $162.00
$4.75 $171.00
$5.00 $180.00
$5.25 $189.00
$5.50 $198.00
$5.75 $207.00

Worried about the cost when riding transit? From youth and seniors to riders with disabilities and lower incomes, there’s an ORCA card for every budget.  

Learn more 

Fares by Sound Transit service

Adult fares (age 19-64)

One-way adult fares range from $2.25 to $3.50 depending on how far you travel. Day passes (good for round-trip or multi-trip rides) are also available from ticket machines. They are twice the one-way fare and are valid for travel only on the date purchased, between the stations printed on the ticket.

1 Line fares

*Downtown Tunnel Stations include: Westlake, University St., Pioneer Square and International District

  Northgate  Roosevelt  U-District UW Capitol Hill Downtown Tunnels Stations* Stadium  SODO Beacon Hill Mt. Baker Columbia City Othello Rainier Beach Tukwila Int'l SeaTac/ Airport Angle Lake
Northgate  

$2.25

$2.50

$2.50 $2.50 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $3.00 $3.00 $3.00

$3.25

$3.50 $3.50
Roosevelt $2.25   $2.25 $2.25 $2.50 $2.50

$2.50

$2.50 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $3.00 $3.25 $3.25 $3.25
U-District

$2.50

$2.25   $2.25 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $3.25 $3.25 $3.25
UW $2.50 $2.25 $2.25   $2.25 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $3.00 $3.25 $3.25
Capitol Hill

$2.50

$2.50 $2.50 $2.25   $2.25 $2.25 $2.25 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.75 $3.00 $3.00 $3.00
Downtown Tunnels Stations*

$2.75

$2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.25 $2.25 $2.25 $2.25 $2.25 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $3.00 $3.00 $3.00
Stadium $2.75 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.25 $2.25   $2.25 $2.25 $2.25 $2.25 $2.50 $2.50 $2.75 $3.00 $3.00
SODO $2.75 $2.75 $2.50 $2.50 $2.25 $2.25 $2.25   $2.25 $2.25 $2.25 $2.50 $2.50 $2.75 $2.75 $3.00
Beacon Hill $2.75 $2.75

$2.75

$2.50 $2.50 $2.25 $2.25 $2.25   $2.25 $2.25 $2.50 $2.50 $2.75 $2.75 $3.00
Mt. Baker $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.25 $2.25 $2.25   $2.25 $2.25 $2.50 $2.75 $2.75 $3.00
Columbia City $3.00 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $2.50 $2.50 $2.25 $2.25 $2.25 $2.25   $2.25 $2.25 $2.50 $2.75 $2.75
Othello $3.00 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.25 $2.25   $2.25 $2.50 $2.75 $2.75

2 Line fares

  South Bellevue East Main Downtown Bellevue Wilburton Spring District BelRed Overlake Village Redmond Technology
South Bellevue  

$2.25

$2.25

$2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50
East Main $2.25   $2.25 $2.25 $2.25 $2.25

$2.50

$2.50
Downtown Bellevue

$2.25

$2.25   $2.25 $2.25 $2.25 $2.50 $2.50
Wilburton $2.50 $2.25 $2.25   $2.25 $2.25 $2.50 $2.50
Spring District

$2.50

$2.25 $2.25 $2.25   $2.25 $2.25 $2.50
BelRed

$2.50

$2.25 $2.25 $2.25 $2.25   $2.25 $2.25
Overlake Village $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.25 $2.25   $2.25
Redmond Technology $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.25 $2.25  

 

 

Low-income adult (ORCA LIFT)

One-way low-income adult fares are $1.00, regardless of distance traveled. Learn if you qualify for an ORCA LIFT card and where to get one.

Youth Fares (18 and under)

Youth 18 and under ride for free on all Sound Transit services. Learn more and apply for a Free Youth Transit Pass here. 

Senior/disabled fares (age 65+ or qualifying disability)

One-way senior/disabled Link fares are $1 for all trips, regardless of the distance traveled. Riders 65+ and riders with disabilities can ride at a reduced rate with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP). An RRFP is given to you on an ORCA card. Learn more about the Regional Reduced Fare Permit.

How to pay

Tickets must be purchased prior to boarding. Pay your Link fare with:

  • ORCA card - Tap ORCA before you enter the platform and after you get off the train.
    • Transferring between services is easy with the ORCA card. Transfer fare is calculated and applied automatically between services. When transferring from Link to Sounder train, keep in mind that Sounder train fares are distance based as well. Remember to tap on at your starting station and tap off at your end destination for both Link and Sounder to accurately calculate your total fare. When transferring to bus, you only need to tap your card once as you enter the bus. 
  • Ticket - Buy Link tickets from the station ticket machine with cash, Visa or MasterCard.
  • Transit Go Ticket app - download in the app store, set-up your account and buy tickets ahead of time. Activate your purchased tickets prior to boarding the train, and show your screen to the fare enforcement officer if asked.
Fare type All ST Express routes
Adult (age 19-64) $3.25
Low-income adult* (ORCA LIFT) $1.00
Senior/Disabled** (age 65+ or qualifying disability) $1.00
Youth (18 and under) Free

Requires ORCA LIFT card.

** Requires Regional Reduced Fare Permit.

How to pay

Pay as you enter the bus with the following options:

  • ORCA card - Tap your card as you board.
    • Transferring to another service is easy with the ORCA card. Transfer fare is calculated automatically between services. When transferring from bus to train, keep in mind that train fares are distance based. Remember to tap on at your starting station to begin your train portion of your trip and tap off at your end destination to accurately calculate your fare.
  • Cash - bus drivers do not carry change, so you will need exact fare.
  • Transit Go Ticket app - download in the app store, set-up your account and buy tickets ahead of time. Activate your purchased tickets prior to boarding the train, and show your screen to the fare enforcement officer if asked.
Bus tickets

Sound Transit does not have a regional bus ticket program. Community Transit bus tickets are valid only on the ST Express routes operated by Community Transit (510, 512, 513, 532, 535). King County Metro Bus (KCM) tickets are valid only on ST Express Routes operated by KCM. (522, 542, 545, 550, 554, ,555, 556, 566). Neither are valid on Sounder trains or Link light rail.

Adult fares (age 19-64)

One-way adult fares range between $3.25 and $5.75, depending on how far you travel. Day passes (good for round-trip or multi-trip rides) are also available from ticket machines. They are twice the one-way fare and are valid for travel only on the date purchased, between the stations printed on the ticket.

Lakewood - Seattle

  Lakewood South Tacoma Tacoma Puyallup Sumner Auburn Kent Tukwila Seattle
Lakewood   $3.25 $3.50 $4.00 $4.00 $4.50 $4.75 $5.00 $5.75
South Tacoma $3.25   $3.25 $3.75 $4.00 $4.25 $4.50 $5.00 $5.50
Tacoma $3.50 $3.25   $3.50 $3.50 $4.00 $4.25 $4.50 $5.25
Puyallup $4.00 $3.75 $3.50   $3.25 $3.50 $4.00 $4.25 $4.75
Sumner $4.00 $4.00 $3.50 $3.25   $3.50 $3.75 $4.00 $4.75
Auburn $4.50 $4.25 $4.00 $3.50 $3.50   $3.25 $3.75 $4.25
Kent $4.75 $4.50 $4.25 $4.00 $3.75 $3.25   $3.25 $4.00
Tukwila $5.00 $5.00 $4.50 $4.25 $4.00 $3.75 $3.25   $3.75
Seattle $5.75 $5.50 $5.25 $4.75 $4.75 $4.25 $4.00 $3.75  

Everett - Seattle

  Everett Mukilteo Edmonds Seattle
Everett   $3.25 $4.00 $5.00
Mukilteo $3.25   $3.75 $4.50
Edmonds $4.00 $3.75   $4.00
Seattle $5.00 $4.50 $4.00  

Low-income adult (ORCA LIFT)

One-way low-income adult fares are $1.00, regardless of distance traveled. Learn if you qualify for an ORCA LIFT card and where to get one.

Youth Fares (18 and under)

Youth 18 and under ride for free on all Sound Transit services. Learn more and apply for a Free Youth Transit Pass here. 

Senior/disabled fares (age 65+ or qualifying disability)

One-way senior/disabled Sounder fares are $1 for all trips, regardless of the distance traveled. Riders 65+ and riders with disabilities can ride at a reduced rate with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP). An RRFP is given to you on an ORCA card. Learn more about the Regional Reduced Fare Permit.

How to pay

Tickets must be purchased prior to boarding. The conductors do not sell tickets. Pay with:

  • ORCA card - Tap ORCA before boarding the train and after you get off the train.
    • Transferring between services is easy with the ORCA card. Transfer fare is calculated and applied automatically between services. When transferring from Sounder to Link, keep in mind that Link fares are distance based as well. Remember to tap on at your starting station and tap off at your end destination for both Link and Sounder to accurately calculate your total fare. When transferring to bus, you only need to tap your card once as you enter the bus. 
  • Ticket - Buy a Sounder ticket from the ticket machine with cash, Visa or MasterCard. Ticket machines are located all Sounder stations.
  • Transit Go Ticket - download in the app store, set-up your account and buy tickets ahead of time. Activate your purchased tickets prior to boarding the train, and show your screen to the fare enforcement officer if asked.

 

 T Line Fares begin September 16th

Fare type T Line Fare
Adult (age 19-64) $2.00
Low-income adult* (ORCA LIFT) $1.00
Senior/Disabled** (age 65+ or qualifying disability) $1.00
Youth (18 and under) Free

* Requires ORCA LIFT card.

** Requires Regional Reduced Fare Permit.

Adult fares (age 19-64)

One-way adult fares are $2, regardless of how far you travel. Day passes (good for round-trip or multi-trip rides) are also available from ticket machines. They are twice the one-way fare and are valid for travel only on the date purchased.

Youth Fares (18 and under)

Youth 18 and under ride for free on all Sound Transit services. Learn more and apply for a Free Youth Transit Pass here. 

Senior/disabled fares (age 65+ or qualifying disability)

One-way senior/disabled Link fares are $1 for all trips, regardless of the distance traveled. Riders 65+ and riders with disabilities can ride at a reduced rate with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit. An RRFP is given to you on an ORCA card. Learn more about the Regional Reduced Fare Permit.

Low-income adult (ORCA LIFT)

One-way low-income adult fares are $1.00, regardless of distance traveled. Learn if you qualify for an ORCA LIFT card and where to get one.

How to pay

Tickets must be purchased prior to boarding. Pay your fare with:
  • ORCA card - Tap your ORCA card on the yellow card reader before you board. 
    • Transferring to another service is easy with the ORCA card. Transfer fare is calculated automatically between services. When transferring from bus to train, keep in mind that Sounder and 1 Line fares are distance based. When riding these services, remember to tap on at your starting station and tap off at your end destination for an accurately calculated fare.
  • Ticket - Buy Link tickets from the station ticket machine with cash, Visa, or MasterCard. Show your ticket to a Fare Ambassador when asked. Tickets are not transferable.

 

Sound Transit passenger taps their ORCA card at a Link station.

An ORCA card is the only way to pay for transfers between different services such as trains, buses and streetcars.

As long as you transfer within 2 hours, your original fare will be credited toward the next leg of your journey.

For example, if you use your ORCA card to pay the $3.25 ST Express bus fare and then transfer to Link, the $3.25 fare you've already paid will also count toward your ride on Link. So instead of paying two separate fares, most passengers enjoy completely free transfers with their ORCA card. (If the second leg of your journey costs more than the first, you'll pay only the difference, still saving money.)

Tap on, tap off

ORCA calculates the cost of your trip and deducts that amount from your account. Link and Sounder fares are calculated by how far you travel, so remember to tap your ORCA card on the yellow card reader at the start of your trip and at your destination, or you'll be charged the highest fare from your origin. On buses, tap the reader by the driver when you board. No need to tap off a bus ride.