Puget Sound youths can ride public transit for free starting Thursday
Starting Thursday, transit agencies across Puget Sound will begin providing free rides for young people ages 18 and under.
Rides will be free for young people year-round.
The Free Youth Transit Pass comes after state legislation passed earlier this year.
Any youth, including students, who currently have an ORCA card, can begin using it on Sept. 1 as their Free Youth Transit Pass. Any expiration date on the card will be extended.
Riders aged 13 and older who do not have an ORCA card can also show a transit driver their current high school or middle school identification.
Those who do not have a current ORCA card or student ID will still be able to ride for free.
Transportation agencies that will be offering free rides starting Sept. 1 are King County Metro, Pierce Transit, Community Transit, Kitsap Transit, Seattle Streetcar and Sound Transit. Everett Transit began offering free rides to youth on July 1.
Washington State Ferries will also be giving free rides to youth starting Oct. 1. The free rides apply to young cyclists, pedestrians and vehicle passengers, but not vehicles.
In 2023, youth will be directed to get a Free Youth Transit Pass that allows them to tap a card — or eventually their smartphone — to ride transit across the region for free.
Get more information abut the Free Youth Transit Pass at this link.
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