23 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

The grace period to purchase the ORCA card ended February 28, 2010. It now costs $5, so there is no advantage anymore to pre-purchasing it. For convenience sake it may still be a better thing to have than paying as you go, so you have the choice of ordering it online or buying it in person when you get to Seattle.

Remember, don't put any money into the e-purse until closer to the Fest. The amount you need will vary by your level of participation, but you can try to come up with a ballpark figure based on the expected costs as listed here.

[Lightning]

We're well within the 60-day window when one can purchase funds and apply them to the ORCA e-purse and not have the account locked before tapping the first time. Go to http://www.orcacard....attle/p1_001.do (not sure why that is the default, but if it doesn't work outside the area try www.orcacard.com You can add money to the e-purse online or by telephone, but I don't know if the toll-free number is any good outside of the immediate area or state. If you register the card with a password, you can follow what happens with your account. Once you put funds on the e-purse it MAY say 'tentative' or 'pending' as happened with me. Once you tap on a reader, the amount will show up as a valid e-purse amount. Here's more or less what most of the group will need to put on the card

• July 20: Chinatown/International District to Westlake (or intermediate points) on Central Link 1.75
  July 20: Westlake to Sea-Tac Airport on Central Link 2.50
  July 20: Sea-Tac to Westlake or intermediate points Central Link 2.50

• July 21: South Lake Union Streetcar and return. Free with ORCA Card*
  July 21: Monorail to Seattle Center and return. Does not accept ORCA Card
  July 21: Westlake to Chinatown/International District on Link 1.75
  July 21: King Street Station to Tacoma on Sounder 4.75
  July 21: Tacoma to KSS on Sounder 4.75
  July 21: Chinatown/International District to Westlake on Link 1.75

• July 22: Various to Chinatown/International District on Link to get to KSS up to 2.50

I get $22.25 if I added right.

* The ORCA is accepted on board the South Lake Union Streetcar, but tapping stations have not yet been installed, so you would show the card if asked and no funds will be subtacted. Those without card will need to pay one way (ticket carries a two-hour window).

Some might pay more or less, of course, depending where one is staying and whether one taks in all activities or if one returns to Seattle after Vancouver. The amount is meant as an approximate guide. Depending on where we dine July 22, the itinerary might change slightly.

When I tested my ORCA Card early on, the tap reader was confused because I tapped out at Tukwila International and tapped back in again for my return trip. Those who programmed the system did not, it seems, take into account that anyone would take Link for fun and return immediately on the next train. So, at least when I tested it, which was some months ago, I ended up NOT being charged for the return run. Now I don't know if this has been "corrected".

Let me know if I have omitted an itinerary item or otherwise did not calculate correctly.

Edited by Lightning, 08 June 2010 - 11:04 PM.

[KevinKorell]

Thanks, Mark. A few points/observations: Back in Post #5 in this thread, I had tried the (888) toll free number from both my home and cell phones, and the number did not work. So it may only be for Washington. I'll double check the costs, and report back in a day or two. Also I was under the impression that the time between putting money in the e-purse and initially tapping the card was 30 days, not 60. Did this change in the past several months? If it's 30, we still have about a week & a half to go. The dinner in question is July 21st, not 22nd, as we will be in Vancouver well before dinnertime on the 22nd. Finally, those who might be staying out by the airport or elsewhere along the Central LINK will have some more back and forth costs on the 20th and 21st.

[AlanB]

Also I was under the impression that the time between putting money in the e-purse and initially tapping the card was 30 days, not 60. Did this change in the past several months? If it's 30, we still have about a week & a half to go.

They changed that rule about a month ago or so due to many complaints from people having problems with it. The change was mentioned in a story back in April, please see this post for more info and a link to the story. It's discussed in the second question in the story.