No ORCA card? No problem. Credit cards now accepted to ride Seattle transit

Seattle has officially launched the tap-to-pay feature for public transportation, an alternative to the ORCA card.

With tap-to-pay, Seattle joins other major cities that already allow riders to use credit cards or digital wallet for public transit fees.

Tap-to-pay can be used at all Sound Transit services, as well as King County Metro, Community Transit, and Pierce Transit. Eventually, the program will be expanded to Washington State Ferries, Kitsap Fast Ferries, and the King County Water Taxi.

Sarthak Rijal, a rider waiting for the 1 Line on Capitol Hill Monday, welcomed the addition. He relies on his ORCA card to get around town and said the tap-to-pay option will be handy for tourists or anyone who wants to skip the hassle of buying an ORCA card. Tap-to-pay launched as Seattle prepares to welcome visitors this summer for FIFA World Cup matches.

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“I really appreciate it when I was in New York,” Rijal said, referring to that city's tap-to-pay option. “I can just go to the subway without having to wait.”

Sound Transit spokesperson David Jackson said it took time to coordinate with different agencies and technology platforms to integrate the new system.

“But we’re really pleased to be introducing this,” Jackson said. “It just makes it easier, especially if you forgot your ORCA card or your family’s visiting from out of town.”

Jackson did note a few things to be aware of with the new system. If a rider has both an ORCA card and a credit card in their wallet, for example, he advised using the ORCA card, so the reader uses the correct payment. Riders who get transit fare discounts should also use their ORCA cards, too, to continue receiving those discounts.