Although the preparations have been many years in the making, May 16th will represent the start of a new era for Puget Sound transit riders’ experience with the ORCA card system. In two weeks, users will have full access to the new MyORCA website and mobile app, where customers will be able to add value to their account in real time — no more waiting 24 to 48 hours before one can use added funds. Additionally, the new system will no longer have money that’s immutably tethered to a particular card. Instead, an account-based system will tie funds to the account, allowing funds to be transferred to other cards within the account if one is lost or damaged.
Transitioning to the new system will require brief downtime, so nearly all trips across all seven ORCA transit agencies will be free the weekend of May 14th and May 15th. Only drivers on Washington State Ferries will still be required to pay for their trip with an alternate payment method. Work to replace the over 6,000 ORCA devices, including bus consoles, ticket vending machines, and station scanners, will continue for the next several weeks.
