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News / Published on Aug 1, 2024

Pay your DART fare with an ORCA Card

Paratransit riders can now tap to pay, the easy way
A hand holding four different types of ORCA cards in front of a portable ORCA card scanner. The background is the inside of a DART paratransit bus.

Pictured above: DART paratransit riders can tap their ORCA card on a mobile scanner to pay for their ride.

Note: This blog post was updated on Oct. 10, 2025. 

Are you a Community Transit DART paratransit rider? Great news – you can pay for your DART ride with an ORCA card. Paying your DART fare with an ORCA card is a seamless payment experience across transit services.  

DART is a ride-sharing service for Snohomish County residents who can't use fixed-route bus service due to a disability or condition. Learn more about DART here. 

Benefits of using an ORCA card to pay for your DART ride:

  • No more paper ticket book! You can load funds onto your ORCA card from the comfort of your own home. 
  • More budget-friendly. With an ORCA card, you can load your card with as much money as you need, rather than having to pay $50 up-front for a paper ticket book. 
  • No need to keep cash on hand. With an ORCA card, you no longer have to count exact change when paying for your ride. Just tap your card to pay!  

How to pay for your DART ride with an ORCA card

To pay for your DART ride with an ORCA card, start by purchasing it and loading it with money. Then, when you board a DART paratransit bus, pay your fare by tapping your ORCA card on the DART driver’s handheld ORCA card reader.  

You can order an ORCA card online or purchase one in person at select locations, such as the Community Transit Ride Store. If you order a card online, you will receive it by mail in 5-10 business days. If you sign up for a card in person, you will get an ORCA card the same day.  

How to load funds on your ORCA card

Once you get an ORCA card, there are a few ways you can add funds to it:

  • Online at myORCA.com - Create an account to load passes or add money to the “E-purse". 
  • Through the myORCA application* for your smartphone and create an account to load funds to your card.* Available on the Apple IOS Store or Google Play Store. 
  • At a customer service location or retail location in person, including the Community Transit Ride Store. A list of these locations can be found here.
  • Call the Community Transit Ride Store at (425) 348-2350. 

How much money should I put on my ORCA card?

If you use DART services frequently, we recommend adding a monthly pass to your ORCA card to pay for DART fare. The monthly pass is $90, the same as the paper DART monthly pass, and is good for unlimited rides on DART. See a price list here.  

For less frequent DART riders, you can add funds to your card e-purse for pay-as-you-go single rides – just be sure that you’re checking the balance of your ORCA card before you board to make sure you have enough to pay your fare. 

Applying for reduced fares 

DART riders automatically qualify for a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) ORCA card and may also qualify for a subsidized annual pass.  

DART fare is one flat fare of $2.50 per ride for all adult riders (not including personal care assistants). But, if you plan on taking another form of local transit, such as another Community Transit bus, Zip shuttle, or the Link light rail, you will get discounted fare with an RRFP card. With a subsidized annual pass, you pay $0 fare on DART and other local public transit services. 

To sign up for an RRFP ORCA card or subsidized annual pass, you will need to complete an application and meet the eligibility criteria. Learn more. 

Learn more and get your ORCA Card

Community Transit is excited to help DART riders get started with an ORCA card, and we are here to help you if you have any questions. To learn more about DART visit our DART webpage, to learn more about getting an ORCA card, call Community Transit’s Ride Store at (425) 348-2350 or visit the myORCA website.  

* Please note: Some riders have employer-issued ORCA cards. If this is you, check with your employer if you have questions about checking your balance or reloading your card.

Samantha Menzimer, Communications Strategist
Written by Samantha Menzimer, Communications Strategist
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