ORCA card

File:ORCA card logo.svg

Central Puget Sound transit agencies have collaborated in a region-wide fare system since 1991 with the introduction of U-PASS and later FlexPass. In 1996, voters approved Sound Move, which called for an integrated regional fare policy for a "one-ticket ride".Sound Transit. "Sound Move—The 10-Year Regional Transit System Plan". 1996. That goal led to the creation of the PugetPass in 1999, which allowed transit riders to use a single pass for five transit agencies.{{cite web|url=https://orcatest.com/press_release.pdf |title=Transit Agencies Gear Up to Test "Smart Card" |access-date=2009-02-14 |date=2006-08-28 |publisher=Central Puget Sound Regional Fare Coordination Project |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109151050/https://orcatest.com/press_release.pdf |archive-date=2007-01-09}} (via Archive.org)

On April 29, 2003, an agreement to implement a smart card system between the seven agencies in the Central Puget Sound Regional Fare Coordination Project (Sound Transit, King County Metro, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, and Washington State Ferries) was signed along with a $43 million contract awarded to ERG Transit Systems (now Vix Technology) as the vendor and system integrator of the project. The ORCA card was originally anticipated to be operational in 2006.{{cite web |url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/prog/smartcard/sc_signing042903.html |title=Smart Card - Signing of the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement and Vendor Contract |access-date=2009-02-14 |date=2003-04-29 |publisher=Central Puget Sound Regional Fare Coordination Project }}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

File:ORCA Card.jpg

Between November 9 and December 22, 2006, as many as 6,000 transit riders were asked to participate in a live test of the smart card system. The test was conducted on selected routes of the seven participating agencies. The University of Washington conducted a separate test for integrating ORCA with the Husky Card and U-PASS during the same period.[http://www.washington.edu/facilities/transportation/commuterservices/u-pass/orca UW Commuter Services: ORCA Smart Cards]

A limited rollout of the ORCA system began on April 20, 2009, which allowed remaining technical issues in the system to be resolved. An extensive rollout and public outreach campaign followed in June 2009. Blank cards were available at no charge during the introductory period, which lasted until March 1; from then on, the card cost $5 ($3 for reduced fare permit holders). Users of PugetPasses, FlexPasses, and other passes were to be gradually transitioned to ORCA.

The ORCA launch press kit gave a launch timeline as follows:[http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/04/18/orca-rollout-begins-monday/ Seattle Transit Blog - ORCA Rollout Begins Monday]

• April 17, 2009 – Press release announcing launch of ORCA.
• April 20, 2009 – Orcacard.com and 1-888-988-ORCA call center launches. Customer Service Offices begin ORCA card distribution.
• May 2009 – Sounder Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) begin ORCA card distribution. "ORCA is Here" inserts and posters appear in Customer Service Offices and on board buses, trains, and ferries. Switch began of Reduced Fare customers and Business Accounts to ORCA (continued into 2010).
• June 2009 – "ORCA is Here!" radio and print ads and bus billboards appear. Public outreach campaign with blank card distribution.
• July 2009 – Link light rail service begins and Link TVMs begin ORCA card distribution.
• Jan 1, 2010 – Elimination of intersystem paper transfers.{{Cite web |url=http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/help/atis-help-transfers.html |title=Trip Planner Tips - Fare and transfer information |access-date=2010-01-14 |archive-date=2010-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108052501/http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/help/atis-help-transfers.html |url-status=dead }}
• Fall 2010 – The planned replacement of University of Washington student and employee ID cards with ORCA-integrated photo ID cards was delayed until sometime in 2011. The U-PASS and the King County employee passes were to be dual purpose passes and were to include the ORCA chip.[http://www.washington.edu/facilities/transportation/commuterservices/files/reports/14Oct08_minutes_UTC.pdf University Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes, October 14, 2008] page 2
• May 2013 – 120 retail stores from QFC, Safeway, and Sears begin selling ORCA cards{{cite press release |date=May 16, 2013 |title=New program quadruples options for buying ORCA |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/new-program-quadruples-options-buying-orca |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=October 12, 2022}}
• 2015 – The regional day pass debuts{{cite press release |date=March 27, 2015 |title=ORCA agencies plan new Regional Day Pass options |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/orca-agencies-plan-new-regional-day-pass-options |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=October 12, 2022}}
• 2019 – 10 year anniversary card released{{Cite web |title=Link light rail turns 10! {{!}} Sound Transit |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/link-light-rail-turns-10 |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.soundtransit.org}}
• 2023-2025 – Three designs featuring art by youth artists released, coinciding with the opening of RapidRide lines H, G, and I.{{Cite web |last=on |first=4Culture |date=2023-03-24 |title=Limited Edition, Artist Designed ORCA Cards Now Available! - 4Culture |url=https://www.4culture.org/limited-edition-artist-designed-orca-cards-now-available/ |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=4Culture |language=en-US}}

File:New and Old Orca Cards.jpg

The ORCA name refers to orca whales that inhabit the Puget Sound. The name was originally suggested by the Sound Transit project manager as in keeping with a theme of successful earlier smart card system names such as Oyster (in London) and Octopus (in Hong Kong), but the name was not accepted by the project joint board until the acronym "One Regional Card for All" was suggested by another Sound Transit staff member.{{Not in ref|date=April 2023}}

An orca mascot for the card and system was unveiled in 2023 and named "Boop" in a public contest. The mascot's name is an onomatopoeia for the sound of a card reader when an ORCA card is tapped.{{cite news |last=Garrett |first=Shawn |date=May 5, 2023 |title=Boop! ORCA card fans name its new mascot |url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/boop-orca-card-fans-name-its-new-mascot/S27KEEWLWFCSZBKZVFA67QWNP4/ |publisher=KIRO 7 News |accessdate=May 13, 2024}}

The ORCA Joint Board approved a capital-and-service contract with INIT in 2018 to design and implement a major overhaul of the ORCA system, including new cards, mobile ticketing, and compatibility with contactless payment credit cards and smartphones.{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=May 2, 2022 |title=What you need to know about changes coming to the ORCA fare card system |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/what-you-need-to-know-about-changes-coming-to-the-orca-fare-card-system/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=October 11, 2022}} Approximately 2,900 on-board fare validators, 1,000 off-board validators, and 250 vending machines were to be replaced under the contract.{{cite press release |author=INIT |date=October 8, 2018 |title=INIT to Deliver Next Generation ORCA Fare Collection System |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/technology/fare-collection/press-release/12432618/init-innovations-in-transportation-inc-init-to-deliver-next-generation-orca-fare-collection-system |publisher=Mass Transit Magazine |accessdate=October 11, 2022}}

A new website and smartphone app was launched in May 2022 with a weekend-long fare-free period to introduce new validators and card readers.{{cite press release |date=May 2, 2022 |title=New ORCA card system begins on May 16 |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/new-orca-card-system-begins-may-16 |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=October 11, 2022}} Ticket vending machines for Link light rail were also taken offline for three days as part of the transition.{{cite news |date=May 13, 2022 |title=Link Light Rail Ticket Vending Machines Off-Line at 11:30 p.m. Tonight |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/link-light-rail-ticket-vending-machines-line-1130-pm |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=October 11, 2022}} The new website and app allowed for fare management without the previous 24-hour delay.{{cite news |date=May 16, 2022 |title=Transit agencies launch 'improved' ORCA ticketing system |url=https://www.king5.com/article/traffic/traffic-news/orca-card-ticketing-system-launches-puget-sound/281-e760207c-dd1e-4fd8-abaa-1c6212fd50d8 |publisher=KING 5 News |accessdate=October 11, 2022}} The new card readers and validators initially did not display e-purse balances and pass statues until a later update.{{cite news |date=May 26, 2022 |title=What's up with the ORCA card readers? |url=https://info.myorca.com/news/whats-up-with-the-orca-card-readers/ |publisher=MyORCA |accessdate=October 11, 2022}} The machines' noise was also reduced, which drew criticism from passengers and was later corrected.{{cite news |date=July 28, 2022 |title=ORCA Update: Card Reader Boops |url=https://info.myorca.com/news/orca-update-card-reader-boops/ |publisher=MyORCA |accessdate=October 11, 2022}}

The new, black-colored cards debuted in October 2022 as part of a retail rollout following a short beta test period.{{cite press release |date=October 5, 2022 |title=ORCA retail network expansion starting today; redesigned cards debut |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/orca-retail-network-expansion-starting-today-redesigned |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=October 11, 2022}} On June 24, 2024, virtual ORCA cards were made available for Google Wallet users with full support across the system's member agencies.{{cite press release |date=June 24, 2024 |title=ORCA Card now available in Google Wallet; Android users can pay for transit with phone and Wear OS device |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/orca-card-now-available-google-wallet-android-users-can |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=June 24, 2024}} Additional smartphone and contactless credit card compatibility had also been announced for 2023,{{cite press release |date=May 16, 2022 |title=New ORCA system for regional transit launched |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/new-orca-system-regional-transit-launched |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=October 11, 2022}} but these features were delayed due to system issues with the user experience and management of employee accounts. In May 2024, an estimated 431,000 ORCA cards were used for at least one trip.{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=June 26, 2024 |title=Your phone can now be an ORCA card, if you're an Android user |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/orca-sightings-finally-arrive-on-google-wallet-phone-app/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=June 26, 2024}}

{{Expand section|date=June 2012}}

The original card uses the ISO/IEC 14443 RFID standard.{{cite web|last=Raschke|title=FareBot: reading ORCA cards on Android|date=11 February 2011|url=http://transport.kurtraschke.com/2011/02/farebot-orca-android|access-date=30 June 2012}} Specifically, the MIFARE DESFire EV1 which "implements all 4 levels of ISO / IEC 14443A and uses optional ISO / IEC 7816-4 commands.".{{cite web|title=MIFARE DESFire™ EV1|url=http://www.mifare.net/products/mifare-smartcard-ic-s/mifare-desfire-ev1/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221212809/http://www.mifare.net/products/mifare-smartcard-ic-s/mifare-desfire-ev1/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2013|publisher=mifare.net|access-date=30 June 2012}}

The new card, which features a black design, includes a barcode and magstripe for quicker reloading at retail outlets.{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=May 16, 2022 |title=FAQ: What you need to do now to keep your ORCA card working |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/faq-what-you-need-to-do-now-to-keep-your-orca-farecard-working/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=October 11, 2022}}

ORCA is managed by the Central Puget Sound Regional Fare Coordination System, a joint board of directors with representatives of all member transit agencies. Day-to-day management is provided by the staff of Sound Transit and King County Metro.{{cite web | url = http://agency.governmentjobs.com/kingcounty/default.cfm?action=viewJob&jobID=295793&hit_count=no | title = King County Job Listings: Functional Analyst III (ORCA Operations) | access-date = 2011-02-11 | date = 2011-02-11 | publisher = King County | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110711120331/http://agency.governmentjobs.com/kingcounty/default.cfm?action=viewJob&jobID=295793&hit_count=no | url-status = live | archive-date = 2011-07-11}} The system is centrally operated by Vix Technology.

• Community Transit
• Everett Transit
• King County Metro
• King County Water Taxi
• Kitsap Transit (buses and foot ferries)
• Pierce Transit
• Sound Transit (Link light rail, Sounder commuter rail, and Sound Transit Express buses)
• Seattle Streetcar
• Washington State Ferries (accepts E-purse and agency specific passes, does not accept PugetPass)
• Seattle Center Monorail{{cite news |last=Guevara |first=Natalie |date=October 7, 2019 |title=For tourists or commuters? Seattle Monorail to begin accepting ORCA Card payments Oct. 7 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/For-tourists-or-commuters-Seattle-Monorail-to-14493781.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |access-date=October 7, 2019}}

File:Orca Card Fare Vending Machine.jpg

An ORCA card can be used as a stored-value card through a function called the electronic purse (E-purse). The E-purse holds value that can be used like cash to pay fare. The minimum value that can be added to an E-purse is $5. The maximum value that can be stored in an E-purse is $400.{{cite web | url=https://www.myorca.com/terms-of-use/#:~:text=The%20maximum%20amount%20of%20E,no%20transfer%20value%20is%20recognized). | title=Terms and Conditions | ORCA }}

===PugetPass===

PugetPass is a regional monthly pass that lets passengers travel on nearly every transit service in the region for a calendar month. A PugetPass is valid for payment of trip fares up to the value of the pass. Trip fares above the value of the pass may be paid with E-purse value. (Example: a passenger who has a $2.50 PugetPass and rides a service that costs $3.75 would have $2.50 covered by the PugetPass and $1.25 would be deducted from their E-Purse). Washington State Ferries does not accept the PugetPass. Pass values available range from 50¢ to $5.75 in 25¢ increments; there is also a $10.00 value pass.[https://info.myorca.com/wp-content/uploads/ORCA-Product-and-Price-List_101023.pdf ORCA Products List] Passes are priced at $36 per $1 of fare value.

This pass costs $6 or $2 (reduced fare) and is valid for unlimited rides on all supported regional transit agencies (not including Kitsap Fast Ferries or Washington State Ferries) for the entirety of the day in which it was purchased.The Regional Day Pass can be purchased at stations, online, or on a mobile app.{{Cite web |title=ORCA Announces Updated Regional Day Pass Fare to Improve Transit Affordability {{!}} Sound Transit |url=https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/orca-announces-updated-regional-day-pass-fare-to-improve |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=www.soundtransit.org}}

An agency pass covers rides on a specific transit agency's service. Examples include Washington State Ferries' monthly passes, Metro ACCESS paratransit passes, and Metro vanpool passes.

Employers may purchase one of two products for their employees:

The ORCA Business Passport is comprehensive, annual transportation pass program. Employers pay a flat annual cost per employee and each receives an ORCA card that covers almost all transit services in the Puget Sound, including Vanpool. Employers must cover all employees.

The ORCA Business Choice allows businesses to add funds to employee ORCA cards on a monthly basis in the form of an E-voucher. The E-voucher can be used to purchase a monthly PugetPass or E-purse value. Any unused E-voucher amount at the end of the month is removed from the employee ORCA cards and refunded to the business.[https://orcacard.com/ERG-Seattle-Institution/KnowledgeBaseAction.do?topicId=kb.productsForSale ORCA Business - Products Available for Sale]

Seattle's former Mayor Jenny Durkan proposed free ORCA cards for students enrolled in Seattle Public Schools, it is not clear if current mayor Bruce Harrell supports this proposal. Seattle Public Schools has issued ORCA cards to students previously; the Interagency program provided these to students from low-income families and those who live more than two miles from their school.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/seattle-plan-for-free-transit-for-students-among-most-generous-in-nation-mayor-says/|title=Seattle plan for free transit for students among most generous in nation, mayor says|date=21 February 2018}} Starting in 2022, all youth under 19 years old are able to ride public transportation for free; Seattle Public Schools no longer provides ORCA cards to students as they are not necessary. Students can still order a free youth ORCA card from MyORCA, however, tapping is not necessary to board transit.{{Cite web |last=Schools |first=Seattle Public |title=ORCA Card and Public Transportation |url=https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/transportation/orca-card-information/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Seattle Public Schools |language=en-US}}

ORCA cards allow a two-hour transfer from the time fare is paid. If an E-purse or regional pass was used to pay fare, transfers are allowed on any bus or rail system in the region. If an agency pass was used, transfers are allowed only on services within that agency. Transfers are stored on the card and automatically calculated for the user. Transfers are not given or accepted on Washington State Ferries.[https://orcacard.com/ERG-Seattle/p2_002.do?m=42&i=474 ORCA: Transfer Questions]

ORCA card users paying with an E-purse can set their zone preference for King County Metro and Sound Transit services. Since July 2018, King County Metro is single-zone only.[https://orcacard.com/ERG-Seattle/p2_002.do?m=42&i=420 ORCA FAQ: Fare Questions]

Balance protection protects the user from losing any value on the card when it is lost or stolen. A replacement card is issued with its value restored for the cost of a new card if the card is registered.[https://orcacard.com/ERG-Seattle/p2_002.do?m=42&i=416 ORCA FAQ: Password and Account Questions]

Since July 2022, ORCA cards allow for a negative balance of up to $2.75 owed to allow users to continue traveling until they can reach a usable vending machine or reloading station.{{cite news |date=July 5, 2022 |title=Introducing One More Trip Protection for ORCA |url=https://info.myorca.com/news/introducing-one-more-trip-protection-for-orca/ |publisher=MyORCA |accessdate=October 11, 2022}}

An Autoload automatically adds transportation products to an ORCA card on a regular basis using a Visa or MasterCard. Examples of autoloads are adding value to an E-purse when its balance falls below a certain amount and recurring purchases of monthly passes.[https://orcacard.com/ERG-Seattle/p2_002.do?m=42&i=417 ORCA FAQ: Revalue Questions]

A myORCA account can be created on the ORCA website to monitor and manage ORCA cards. The account lets the user view transportation products stored on their card (E-purse balance, validity period of passes), transaction history, purchase additional ORCA cards for others, set up an Autoload, set fare presets, and report lost, stolen, or damaged cards.

The ORCA LIFT program discounts fares to $1.00 per ride for users of the ORCA card earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Kirk|title=Targeting Inequality, This Time on Public Transit|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/us/targeting-inequality-this-time-on-public-transit.html|access-date=8 June 2015|work=The New York Times|date=February 28, 2015}} Seniors{{Cite web |title=Seniors |url=https://info.myorca.com/using-orca/ways-to-save/seniors/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=myORCA |language=en-US}} and those with disabilities{{Cite web |title=Disabilities or Medicare |url=https://info.myorca.com/using-orca/ways-to-save/disabilities-medicare/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=myORCA |language=en-US}} are also eligible for reduced fare payments under the Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) program.

A new ORCA card costs $3; prior to May 2022, this fee was $5, one of the highest prices for a public transportation smart card in the United States.{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletransitblog.com/2017/01/06/micro-fixes-for-link-ops/|title=Micro-Fixes for Link Ops|last=White|first=Brent|date=January 6, 2017|publisher=Seattle Transit Blog|language=en-US|quote="...get rid of the nation’s most-expensive-by-far fee for acquiring a bus smart card (the ORCA card). If some sort of incentive is needed to keep riders from treating the card as disposable, it need not be more than 25 cents. $5 is EXTREME OVERKILL for the purpose, that has forced a lot of expensive workarounds for occasional and cash-flow-challenged riders."|access-date=January 14, 2017}} The King County Council has requested a study on the impact of either eliminating the $5 fee or adding $5 in value to all newly purchased cards.{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletransitblog.com/2016/11/15/king-county-unanimously-passes-11b-biennial-budget/|title=King County Unanimously Passes $11B Biennial Budget|last=Shaner|first=Zach|date=November 11, 2016|publisher=Seattle Transit Blog|language=en-US|quote="Council-led changes to the budget were mostly additive, and they included: • A proviso requiring King County to study either eliminating the $5 ORCA card fee, or adding $5 in value to all newly purchased cards. A report to Council will be due in February 2017."|access-date=January 14, 2017}} The report will be due in February 2017.{{Update inline|date=October 2017}}

The $5 fee was waived for all new cards for a three-month period beginning December 1, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last=Rynning |first=Torie |date=December 1, 2020 |title=Metro waives ORCA card fees on new cards |url=https://kingcountymetro.blog/2020/12/01/metro-waives-orca-card-fees-on-new-cards/ |work=Metro Matters |publisher=King County Metro |accessdate=May 21, 2021}} The fee on youth cards was waived through May 2021 and was later permanently eliminated.{{cite news |last=Zhou |first=Amanda |date=May 20, 2021 |title=King County ORCA youth card fee will be waived permanently |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/orca-youth-card-fee-will-be-waived-permanently/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=May 21, 2021}}

Like all transit cards, ORCA cards may be used to track users.{{cite news

| url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/is-big-brother-watching-your-orca-card/

| title=Is Big Brother watching your ORCA card?

| work=The Seattle Times

| date=December 17, 2009

| first=Mike

| last=Lindblom

| access-date=October 24, 2017

}} In the case of subsidized cards, information regarding a rider's trips may be released to third parties including employers who provide the cards.{{cite web

| url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=42.56.330

| title= RCW 42.56.330 Public utilities and transportation.

| publisher= Washington State Legislature

| year = 2007

}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|myorca.com}}
• [http://soctech.cs.washington.edu/wiki/ORCA/ORCA FAQ about ORCA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108234629/http://soctech.cs.washington.edu/wiki/ORCA/ORCA |date=2008-01-08 }} by University of Washington graduate students.
• [https://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/fares-orca/orca-cards.aspx Information on ORCA] from Metro Transit
• [http://www.kitsaptransit.org/OrcaFactSheet.html ORCA Fact Sheet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828130953/http://www.kitsaptransit.org/OrcaFactSheet.html |date=2008-08-28 }} from Kitsap Transit
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071028135544/http://www.erggroup.com/worldwide/details.asp?pid=14&r=5 Fact Sheet] from ERG (archived page)

{{Puget Sound Transit}}

{{American smartcards}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:ORCA}}

Category:Fare collection systems in the United States

Category:Contactless smart cards

Category:Sound Transit

Category:King County Metro

Category:2009 introductions

Category:2009 establishments in Washington (state)