PNW Fest/ORCA Card
#1
Posted 01 January 2010 - 12:38 AM
The reason for this post is to encourage you to order the Seattle area's transit card, ORCA. It will save you from having to purchase individual fares on the various modes of transportation in Seattle. You will later need to add some value to the card, and we'll discuss that as the time approaches. But for now, the card is being offered for free until the end of January 2010. From February 1 and onward, it will cost $5. So it is no loss to you to order the card during January, even if you end up not going. Remember each person in your party will need one, if you are a family unit. The online process requires some basic information (name, address, phone, etc.) to register for the card, and once ordered you should have it in about a week.
So if you are even thinking about possibly going to Seattle in July, go to http://www.orcacard.com/ and click on the white dot in the middle of the page (Get ORCA now) to order the card.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#2
Posted 01 January 2010 - 01:37 AM
#3
Posted 01 January 2010 - 02:31 AM
Take care and take trains!
#4
Posted 01 January 2010 - 02:02 PM
#5
Posted 01 January 2010 - 02:19 PM
Edited by KevinKorell, 01 January 2010 - 02:27 PM.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#6
Posted 01 January 2010 - 02:40 PM
I haven't tried putting more value onto my ORCA card obtained this past July via the online system, even though I have registered my card with the online system and can see my transactions. Frankly I don't believe that it's a hard process, but I can't promise that.
I can tell you however that it's not hard at all to add value to your card at a TVM, in fact it's rather easy. The hardest part I found was that initially I couldn't figure out where to put the card to actually update it with the new value.
Perhaps that was because I'm too familiar with the NYC Metrocard method of inserting it in the slot or the Boston method of just tapping your card against the machine. In the case of ORCA, there is a special holder on the front of the machine that you drop the card into and the card then rests at a slight angle from the machine. Once I figured that part out, it was simple from that point on to add value to our cards.
One other thought is that those with disabilities or who are seniors, should first contact King County Metro and fill out the RRFP form to get a discounted ORCA card. I still have to call them up to find out how to get my mom's card converted over from Adult to Senior. We tried to do it in person right before leaving Seattle, but their computer system was down and they couldn't handle the switch.
Take care and take trains!
#7
Posted 01 January 2010 - 02:47 PM
Take care and take trains!
#8
Posted 01 January 2010 - 03:07 PM
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#9
Posted 07 January 2010 - 11:58 PM
For anyone considering getting an ORCA card in advance a few words of caution.
First, do not put any value on your card at this time! Any card with value must be tapped within 30 days or you will have to jump through hoops to have the value restored.
Second, although I cannot find that page anymore, at one time the site made it quite clear that you could only get the free card if you put money on the card at the time of purchase. Now, I can only find a reference that says retailers will only give you the free card if you put value on it. Retailers seem to include all of the various transit agencies and some other establishments.
If you can get a free card without putting value on it, then by all means please do so. But if you have to put value on it, then you will have to deal with the fact that you will have to contact ORCA prior to the trip to Seattle to have that value restored to your card, unless by some chance you plan to visit Seattle within 30 days of buying your card.
I ride the [morning commute] bus with someone who works at Metro and deals with ORCA. Finally got to ask her about the above this morning. She says that one does NOT need to put money on the card (a process called putting funds into the e-purse) when the card arrives. She said the card would NOT be disqualified or terminated or embargoed if no money is put on it right away. Once money IS applied, it the card needs to be used within 30 days, so by all means send for the card via the website, then, say, just before your departure for the fest, put the amount you estimate you will need. As stated, you need to initiate the process BEFORE February 1, when a $5.00 charge will be assessed and at which point getting ORCA would not make sense.
Also, Kevin said earlier that he did not have any success connecting to the ORCA card customer service 888 number. It could well be that no one at Metro thought "out of the box" and may have assumed that there would not be any calls from out of state or that getting a number with out of state capabilities wouldn't be cost effective. But as Kevin called on a holiday, would one or more of you call (888) 988-6722 during business hours Pacific Time? As the lines have been jammed, you might only get a recording, but as least I would know if you can connect from out of state. Thanks.
#10
Posted 11 January 2010 - 10:54 PM
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