Sound Transit
On Feb. 23, ORCA is launching a new Tap to Pay feature allowing Sound Transit riders to use credit and debit cards, and digital wallets, to pay for transit across the Puget Sound region.
Riders simply tap their contactless Visa, Mastercard, Discover® Network, or American Express credit or debit cards, or cards in digital wallets, using Apple Pay™, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay™ to ride. This new feature, Sound Transit says, “expands access to public transportation and supports seamless travel experiences for both daily riders and visitors alike.”
This new feature also comes as Seattle and the Puget Sound region prepare to host several large events in 2026. With many international visitors expected to travel across the region, Sound Transit says Tap to Pay “simplifies transit and aligns with global expectations for convenient payment options.”
“Making transit an easier choice is fundamental to everything we do at Sound Transit,” said Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine. “Adding Tap to Pay as a fare option increases rider convenience and helps occasional riders get on board.”
“Adding Tap to Pay is a major step forward in how our region moves people and delivers on our commitment to making Puget Sound a modern, transit-friendly destination,” said Christina O’Claire, ORCA Joint Board Chair and King County Metro Mobility Division Director. “By giving visitors the ability to tap and ride using the cards they already carry, ORCA is removing barriers and creating a welcoming and inclusive transit experience. This launch ensures our regional transit system is easy to use and benefits both residents and the global community we’re preparing to host.”
More information is available here.
Calgary Transit
Calgary Transit is incorporating modern sensors on its CTrain fleet “to ensure more accurate ridership estimates,” according to a Calgary Herald report.
According to the report, the agency said it has implemented automated passenger counting (APC) technology on 70% of its LRT vehicles, a percentage that, it says, “will increase as older trains are replaced with newer ones.”
“Info from the automated sensors will put Calgary Transit in a better position to make data-driven decisions in terms of planning and service delivery,” according to a city news release and as reported by the Calgary Herald.
This industry-leading technology, which has been used on Calgary’s bus fleet since 2023, consists of automated sensors that are installed at each door of the vehicle “to accurately capture when people board.”
The data, according to the Calgary Herald, “will help show ridership trends over the course of weeks, months and years,” which the news release states “can support fleet deployment that more closely reflects passengers’ needs.”
