"Public Transit in Seattle 101: Introduction" Top 5 Page for this destination Multi-Choice Tip by glabah

There are seven public transit operators in the Seattle area, and even more when you start to include some of the connecting services, such as Intercity Transit in the Olympia area. This doesn't even begin to count all the private operators of airport shuttles and cruise ship shuttle vans, private intercity buses, and the like. It also does not include Amtrak's intercity passenger trains nor the Washington State Ferries. If you are a tourist in Seattle, however, the public transit agencies you are most likely to need are:

+ King County Metro operates the largest local bus service, covering the city of Seattle and many outlying areas. This agency also operates bus route 99 (the Waterfront loop that was once free) and the South Lake Union Streetcar, and provides funding for operation of the King County Water Taxi, though the actual boat operation is done by a contract operator - and the boat operator issues a King County Transit transfer to Water Taxi passengers for use on any King County Metro bus route. This is why "Public Transit in Seattle 101" must start with King County Metro: if you want to get by using public transit in Seattle, you will wind up using King County Metro in some way, shape or form.

For many years there was "Ride Free Area" in downtown Seattle, but this was suspended in September of 2012 due to budget limits.

To get to other areas, it may also be necessary for you to use:

+ SoundTransit: operates regional buses from Tacoma in the south to Everett in the north, the rail transit route from downtown Seattle to the SeaTac airport, and Sounder commuter trains from Tacoma to Everett in the north, and other transit routes of regional importance.

+ Seattle Monorail: while significantly a tourist attraction, the monorail runs from Westlake Center (a significant transit hub and a shopping center) to Seattle Center (another significant transit hub and tourist center) without stopping, and therefore does have some use as a public transit service. It does not interchange fares or paper transfers with any of the transit services, however.

+ Washington State Ferries: service from downtown Seattle to Bremerton and Bainbridge Island, plus Edmonds to Kingston north of downtown Seattle, plus Fauntleroy - Vashon - Southworth southwest of downtown Seattle, plus others. While useful transportation links, they are also a "thing to do" as the view from the ferry is quite good, and passenger only fare is quite a bit less expensive than you will find on the narrated tours that are also available.

+ King County Water Taxi is also a useful form of transportation that is also a good recreational service. Routes run from downtown Seattle to West Seattle, and from downtown Seattle to Vashon Island.

Some of the services you are less likely to need:

+ Community Transit: operates bus service on a number of routes, oriented around serving suburban communities to the north of Seattle.

+ Pierce County Transit: operates transit in the Tacoma area. If you visit Tacoma or Olympia from Seattle, you may be needing their services.

+ Everett Transit operates local bus services in and around the Everett area.

+ Kitsap Transit operates transit routes on the other side of Puget Sound from Seattle, including at the opposite ends of the two largest ferry routes out of downtown Seattle.

+ Intercity Transit serves the Olympia area with some connections to other cities and other systems.

Most of the transit agencies in the region have switched to a magnetic fare card for those using the system frequently. This is currently the only type of fare that is exchanged between the systems. You can not, for example, pay a cash fare on a SoundTransit bus and have the fare accepted on King County Metro, or vice versa. King County Metro, however, does issue paper transfers for use within its own system.

There are also no day tickets issued for the region. King county Metro does offer a day ticket that is only usable on weekend days.

A number of transit routes serve Seattle by using the transit tunnel under Seattle. This includes several King County Metro bus routes, several SoundTransit bus routes, and the SoundTransit LINK light rail line.

As stated above, King County Metro is the largest local transit service in Seattle proper, and therefore other than mentioning the above other services this tip focuses primarily on what will get you from place to place inside Seattle proper: King County Metro. You will find that I have written other tips on the other transit services.

There is no real good web site for all of these transit agencies combined, though they do operate a joint trip planner that can be accessed on any of their web sites.

Mode: TO,AROUND
Type: Other