Seattle’s ORCA transit system is introducing a “Tap to Pay” upgrade that will allow riders to pay fares by tapping a contactless credit card or smartphone no ORCA card required.
Beginning with a soft launch on Feb. 2 on the G Line bus rapid transit route, riders will be able to use Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. The feature is expected to expand across most ORCA services later in February.
The upgrade is designed to simplify transit use for occasional riders and visitors ahead of major events this summer, including the World Cup and the opening of a new light rail line across Lake Washington. The system uses Visa’s mass-transit payment model, allowing fare readers to process contactless payments in real time.
During the soft launch, riders paying by credit or debit card will be charged a flat $3 adult fare and will not be eligible for transfers beyond the G Line. Once fully launched, standard two-hour transfers will apply, similar to ORCA card users.
Tap to Pay supports one rider per card and adult fares only. Reduced-fare programs and some services including Washington State Ferries, the Seattle Monorail, and select transit routes are excluded. ORCA officials stressed the feature is optional and does not replace existing ORCA cards, which remain the best option for riders using discounted or employer-subsidized fares.
The update brings Seattle closer to the tap-and-go payment systems already standard in many major transit cities worldwide.
