Recovery Card

ORCA Recovery Card

UPDATE: The Recovery Card Program has been extended until August 31, 2023. Please keep your ORCA Recovery card to continue riding transit at no cost. If you are a new employee at an eligible business, please see information below on how to request a card.

SDOT is continually creating programs to support workers, small businesses, and other Seattle residents.

If you are an employee of a small business and would like to receive emails related to future SDOT efforts to support Seattle workers, please fill out our employee outreach form.

If you are a small business owner or manager and are interested in receiving emails related to future SDOT efforts to support small businesses, please join our small business outreach list.

What is the ORCA Recovery Card?

The ORCA Recovery Card is a temporary, unlimited, and full-subsidized ORCA card provided to food service and grocery/ convenience store employees who work at a business in Pioneer Square, the Chinatown/International District, Othello, or Rainier Beach.

The pass is valid for use on King County Metro, King County Water Taxi, Seattle Streetcar, Seattle Center Monorail, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, and Everett Transit. The ORCA cards may not be used on Washington State Ferries.

Background

In November 2020, Seattle voters approved STBD Proposition 1, now called the Seattle Transit Measure (STM). The six-year proposition included an ordinance asking the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to support transportation access for Essential Workers in Seattle.

How Can I Get a Card?

Do You Qualify for the Recovery Card?

To qualify for a Recovery card, your workplace must meet four requirements:

It must be classified as a food service or grocery business.
It must reside within our designated geographic boundaries
- CID/Pioneer Square boundaries outlined HERE.
- Othello/Rainier Beach boundaries outlined HERE.
The business must not have more than 5 locations in the City of Seattle.
The business cannot already provide a comparable transportation benefit.

Eligible applicants can complete a registration form.

Application Form

Fill out an online application form HERE if you work at an eligible grocery or food service business. Please note that completing the form does not guarantee that you will receive a card. This form is available in:

How Can I Replace a Lost Card?

If you lost your ORCA Recovery card, we're happy to mail you a replacement card for free to your home address! Just email us at DOT_TAP@seattle.gov with your name, phone number, and/or email that you provided when you first applied for the program so we can verify your participation.

Do NOT fill out a new application for a card.

Additional Questions?

Email us at DOT_TAP@seattle.gov