Transit Integration

A lot of coordi­nation and integration already happens, but there will always be opportunities to do better.  On an annual basis, PSRC develops a Transit Integration Report documenting transit coordination activities underway and anticipated in the central Puget Sound region. 

2017 saw the region’s transit agencies continue to coordinate on several important initiatives:

Next generation fare card system. Work continues to modernize the region’s electronic fare card system, known as ORCA. Transit agencies are simplifying fare policies and structures as part of the development of the next generation ORCA, which will improve the customer experience and reduce the time and costs associated with next gen ORCA’s development.

Bus fleet electrification. Agencies throughout the central Puget Sound are exploring options to electrify portions of their fleets, which promise big benefits in emissions reduction and fuel savings. Coordination in this field will allow agencies to avoid redundancies in fleet configuration, share innovations, and coordinate on purchases.

The continued expansion of light rail and bus rapid transit:

• Construction continues in Sound Transit’s Northgate and East Link corridors, while design is wrapping up in the Lynnwood and Federal Way Link corridors. Sound Transit is also beginning planning work in their I-405 and SR 522/523 BRT corridors.
• Construction has begun for Community Transit’s Green Line, which connects Paine Field in Everett to Canyon Park in Bothell.
• RapidRide expansion in King County has started through the adoption of Metro Connects and the passage of the Levy to Move Seattle.
• Pierce Transit has started initial planning for high-capacity transit option on Pacific Avenue/SR 7 from Tacoma to Spanaway.

More information on these activities—and many more—can be found in the 2017 Transit Integration Report.