How to ride

Are you new to riding buses and trains, or new to the area? No worries – we’ll answer your questions and get you where you need to go.

Our buses and trains give you a fast and reliable way to travel

New to Sound Transit? Here are the steps to ride.

Plan your trip

Looking for the best way to get around? Our trip planner is just the ticket. It's easy to use and will show you where to catch your ride and schedules for your trip.

Transit options that save you time and hassle

Once you’ve figured out where you're going, we have plenty of options to reliably get you there.

Who doesn't love trains? During weekday rush hours, Sounder travels between Lakewood and Seattle every 20 minutes and between Everett and Seattle every 30 minutes. Sounder also serves select weekend events such as Seahawks, Sounders and Mariners games.

Get where you want to go quickly on ST Express buses with routes to Snohomish, King and Pierce Counties. We have 28 routes between major cities, and your ORCA card will provide you convenient transfers to Link, Sounder and local buses.

Link light rail is best way to fly past traffic! Link travels from Northgate, the University of Washington, downtown Seattle, southeast Seattle, SeaTac Airport and Angle Lake, 20 hours a day, 7 days a week. Link trains run every 8, 10 or 15 minutes depending on the time of day. Service is available from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 6 a.m. to midnight on Sunday and holidays.

Tacoma Link light rail travels 1.6 miles through downtown Tacoma, with six stops along the way. Tacoma Link trains run every 12 minutes most weekdays and Saturdays, and every 24 minutes on Sundays. Service is available from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday and holidays.

Connecting to light rail is easy

Sound Transit is coordinating with other transit agencies to make it easier for you to catch a bus to the nearest light rail station when new service starts. Check the Trip Planner for your most direct route. Learn how to transfer between services here.

Many Link light rail stations offer convenient pick-up and drop-off locations. Parking for cars is available at Northgate, Shoreline South/145th and Shoreline North/185th stations. Learn more about parking options.

Bike and walking trails offer easy ways to access transit. You can either store your bike safely at the station or bring it on light rail with you. Here are our favorite tips for combining transit and bikes.

We believe that transit should be accessible to everyone, which is why we offer a wide range of services to make riding easier.

Pay your fare

There are plenty of ways to pay, so take your pick. The super easy, no stress way is with an ORCA card. Buy an ORCA card at a ticket machine, online, or at a retail location. 

When to tap?

Tap on, tap off graphic

When using your ORCA card to ride Link or Sounder trains, don't forget to tap the yellow card reader before you board – the single beep will let you know your card has been accepted. When you reach your destination, make sure you tap off and listen for the two beeps. On buses, tap the reader by the driver when you board. No need to tap off a bus ride.

More about fares and passes

Enjoy the ride

Getting there can be half the fun, as long as you follow a few common sense rules. No smoking, and please allow people with disabilities and senior citizens to use the designated priority seating. Check out rules for riding to see all the ways to make the ride more enjoyable for you and everyone else.

We're here to help

Your safety and comfort are top priorities for us, so if you have any questions or concerns, contact customer service or security at any time.