Visiting Seattle? You can use public transportation as many times as you want for $8 a day.
Explore Seattle for $8 a day with a Regional Day Pass
Photo courtesy: Visit Seattle
Last year Seattle introduced a 6-month pilot program that let you buy a regional day pass for $9. This was a great idea because you can sightsee and get around Seattle without a car.
The Regional Day Pass is back. But now it’s only $8 and you can buy it all year. You pay $4 if you’re disabled or 65 and older.
How to Get Unlimited Public Transportation in Seattle For $8 a Day
You can buy a Regional Day Pass for your ORCA card (a reusable public transportation card).
ORCA cards can be purchased for $5 ($3 for seniors/disabled riders) at transit centers and rail stations, including the Sea Tac Airport Link Light Rail station. You can load ORCA cards with cash or credit card.
An $8 Regional Day Pass is valid with your first use until 3 a.m. the next day on unlimited adult one-way fares of up to $3.50.
Seniors (65 or order) and disabled riders who qualify under the Regional Reduced Fare Permit program (RRFP) can purchase a pass for $4. These passes are valid for fares up to $1.75
What if the fare is more than $3.50 ($1.75 for RRFP)
If your one-way fare is more than $3.50, you can pay the difference using your ORCA card or with cash on buses. If you use the Sounder or travel longer distances, you may want to load extra funds to your ORCA card.
How Many $8 Regional Day Passes Can I Buy?
You can buy up to 12 day passes for immediate use for each ORCA card at:
- Ticket vending machines at train stations
- Some transit centers
- Downtown Seattle transit tunnel
- ORCA retailers
- Transit customer service offices
Regional Day Passes can also be purchased online at orcacard.com or by calling 1-888-988-6722. But you have to wait 24 to 48 hours before they’re activated.
Which Public Transportation Accepts a Regional Day Pass?
You can use your pass on:
- Community Transit*
- Everett Transit
- King County Metro Transit
- King County Water Taxi*
- Kitsap Transit (bus and foot ferry)
- Pierce Transit (bus)
- Seattle Streetcar
- Sound Transit (bus, Link, and Sounder*)
*Additional fare may be required on some trips.
Where is The Regional Day Pass Not Valid?
The Regional Day Pass can NOT be used on:
- Amtrak
- BoltBus
- King County Metro Access Transportation
- Monorail
- Paratransit service
- Washington State Ferries
Can I Share my Regional Day Pass?
No, only one person can use each Regional Day Pass.
Can Children Get a Regional Day Pass?
No, the pass is only for adults.
Should You Buy a Regional Day Pass?
The Regional Day Pass is a good deal if:
- You would rather ride than walk
- You want to go farther than downtown Seattle
- You’re staying near the airport and will make multiple trips downtown
But if you are only going to use public transportation a couple of times, it may not be worth buying a pass.
Conclusion
You can save money getting around Seattle without a car by buying a Regional Day Pass. For $8 a day you get to unlimited rides on public transportation in Seattle.
Regional Day Passes have to be loaded to an ORCA card and purchased at train stations, transit centers, ORCA retailers, online, or by phone at 1-888-988-6722.
You can buy up to 12 passes per ORCA card. But each ORCA card is only valid for 1 person.
Passes are active upon first use and expire at 3 a.m. the following day.
What’s your favorite city that has easy to use public transportation?
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Photo courtesy: Visit Seattle
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