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ORCA Choice News: March 2025

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ORCA Business Choice News


Reminder: King County Metro resuming fare inspection March 31  

King County Metro will ask you for proof of fare payment starting March 31 2025 logo Remember to pay and ORCA card

Starting March 31, 2025, Metro fare inspectors will ask riders for proof of fare payment. Friendly, verbal reminders will be given to riders who did not pay. Fare inspection will fully resume starting on May 31, 2025.  

To prevent any inspection warnings, all riders must tap their ORCA card, including riders whose employers fully subsidize their transit trips. We even encourage youth to tap their ORCA card, even though they can ride free. Learn more about the updated fare inspection program [ https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps%3A%252F%252Fkingcountymetro.blog%252F2025%252F01%252F06%252Fking-county-metro-to-resume-fare-inspection-in-march-2025%252F%2F1%2F0100019494e6e76a-962360f3-cfb6-4c52-97d9-d5e493d43c20-000000%2Fr2brs6BOMKagMqqMdKozBRh5R9_I0RXkRqrXFyqiJpU%3D389&data=05%7C02%7Cemployer.services%40kingcounty.gov%7C0071022aa38f4649a2e808dd3bee73ea%7Cbae5059a76f049d7999672dfe95d69c7%7C0%7C0%7C638732617525464087%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vaxKOE9zniv4gqfyHdQRDIsaWjRUVL82jtaQqqhsb7U%3D&reserved=0 ]. 



Improved bus service coming to the Eastside 

In February, King County Executive Dow Constantine proposed and the King County Council adopted Metro bus service changes on the Eastside to be implemented in 2025 and 2026. These new changes will add more frequency, new connections, greater reliability, and more night and weekend service for Eastside residents.  

The final network will roll out in phases that align with Sound Transit’s 2 Line light rail service extension across Lake Washington. Once completed, buses will connect riders to 12 rail stations in Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Redmond. Learn more about the East Link Connections final network proposal. [ https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/metro/programs-and-projects/east-link-connections ]  

East Link Connections

More King County Metro bus service starting March 29

March 29 Service Change V2

Starting March 29, King County Metro will increase bus service, including on evenings and weekends. The additional service will include hundreds more trips on Routes 8, 36 and 107 supported by the Seattle Transit Measure.  

Some routes will use new bus stops, including the Federal Way Downtown Station, and several Redmond bus routes will serve new Link 2 Line stations when they open May 10. 

Bus trip times will be updated across most bus routes. New purple timetables with the changes are available on buses, at transit centers and at other popular locations. Learn more about the upcoming service change [ https://kingcountymetro.blog/2025/03/17/more-king-county-metro-bus-service-starting-march-29/ ].



ORCA Seasonal Passport

Spring and summer are fast approaching! Metro’s ORCA Seasonal Passport program is a great recruitment benefit to offer when hiring interns, seasonal, and temporary workers. Seasonal employees can enjoy unlimited transit travel with an employer-provided ORCA pass at an affordable rate.

Employers can choose a contract length from 2-6 months and a minimum of 5 or more seasonal employees is required. Learn more about ORCA Seasonal Passport [ https://kingcounty.gov/ru-ru/dept/metro/programs-and-projects/orca-seasonal-passport ]. 

Seasonal Passport Retail Worker

Rider impacts: upcoming downtown Seattle 1 Line rail replacement

Link light rail

Between April 14-23, Sound Transit will be replacing a section of rail at the International District Link station. During this project, the southbound tunnel will be closed, and trains will travel on a single track northbound. 1 Line trains will run approximately every 12 minutes between Lynnwood – Westlake and Stadium – Angle Lake stations, and every 25-30 minutes between Westlake – Stadium stations.

Riders will need to transfer at Westlake and Stadium stations for continued light rail service. Learn more about planned Sound Transit service disruptions [ https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/changes-affect-my-ride/planned-service-disruptions ].  



ORCA transit ridership grows to 151 million trips

Transit in the Puget Sound region delivered 17 million more trips in 2024 than the prior year, according to six ORCA transit agencies. These agencies delivered 134 million trips in 2023 and 151 million trips in 2024.   

With more riders and strong support, ORCA transit agencies are continuing to expand and enhance transit service, leading efforts to combat climate change, and making transit more accessible, affordable and attractive to residents and visitors.  Learn more about the growth of regional transit ridership. [ https://info.myorca.com/news/2024-report-shows-big-jump-in-orca-transit-ridership/ ]  

"Total boardings by transit agency and by region"

 

*Trips in 2023* 



*Trips in 2024* 



*Rider increase* 



*Percentage increase* 



*ORCA region (total)* 



*134,335,747* 



*150,959,390* 



*16,623,643* 



*12%* 



Community Transit 



7,176,526



8,425,448



1,248,922



17%



Everett Transit 



1,329,878



1,750,832



420,954



32%



King County Metro 



78,915,922



88,561,187



9,645,265



12%



Kitsap Transit 



2,749,224



3,203,405



454,181



17%



Pierce Transit 



6,787,197



7,509,518



722,321



11%



Sound Transit 



37,377,000



41,509,000



4,132,000



11%













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