USA: Seattle’s Sound Transit has worked with INIT to deploy ‘Tap to Pay’ open payment on its Orca fare system, enabling users of seven light rail, bus and ferry operators in the Puget Sound region to pay using a contactless credit or debit card or mobile wallet.
INIT expects this to have a significant impact on the region’s ability to manage demand when Seattle hosts an estimated 750 000 fans during the FIFA World Cup 2026 football tournament. INIT ticketing systems are also being launched in host cities including Houston and Atlanta.
‘By giving visitors the ability to tap and ride using the cards they already carry, Orca is removing barriers and creating a welcoming and inclusive transit experience’, Orca Joint Board Chair Christina O’Claire said when contactless payment went live in February. ‘This launch ensures our regional transit system is easy to use and benefits both residents and the global community we’re preparing to host.’
Orca - One Regional Card for All, and named for the killer whales living in Puget Sound - was originally implemented as a closed-loop smart card system. Today, 79% of fares in the area are paid using Orca.
People paying with contactless cards are charged an adult fare and have a 2 h transfer window. However they cannot receive discounts, and Orca cards remain the best option for people enrolled in free or reduced fare programmes and with employer-sponsored cards.
Ticket inspectors will not scan credit or debit cards, but will ask Tap to Pay riders to share the last four digits of their card number which can be used to confirm that the fare transaction occurred.
