The days of walking onto a Sound Transit train without paying could soon become much more difficult.
The days of walking onto a Sound Transit train without paying could soon become much more difficult.
Sound Transit is looking to install fare gates at 14 of its busiest stations, forcing riders to tap their ORCA card to get in and out. The transit agency is losing millions of dollars to unpaid fares and believes this could be the fix.
The proposal, which could go to a vote before the Sound Transit Board on Aug. 27, would launch a phased pilot program requiring riders to tap an ORCA card or other approved payment method both when entering and exiting selected stations.
The goal is to strike a balance between keeping the system accessible and ensuring riders pay their fares, according to Sound Transit officials.
The proposals come from a study that determined fare gates now make financial sense at the system's busiest stations
Sound Transit staff recommend a "bidirectional" gate system, meaning passengers would have to both tap to enter and exit gated stations.
Even riders boarding at stations without gates would have to tap to leave a gated station, making it more difficult to avoid paying.
The initial pilot would target stations chosen for three factors: high ridership, layouts that can accommodate fare gates, and the strongest projected financial return from improved fare collection.
Recommended stations include:
- Lynnwood City Center
- Northgate, Roosevelt
- U District
- University of Washington
- Capitol Hill
- Westlake
- Symphony
- Pioneer Square
- International District/Chinatown
- Bellevue Downtown
- Downtown Redmond
- SeaTac/Airport
- Federal Way Downtown
The agency estimates installing the gates would cost between $79 million and $88 million, but projects the investment would pay for itself within two to five years through increased fare revenue.
After that, Sound Transit could take in more than $30 million in additional annual fare revenue.
The number of riders who actually pay the required fare has fallen sharply since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sound Transit estimates about 63% of riders paid their fares in 2025, down from 85% in 2019.
The proposal would also require changes for some riders.
Passengers who currently purchase paper tickets could instead use QR codes, disposable smart cards, or other payment options that are still being considered.
Riders paying with cash would also need an alternative way to pass through the gates.
Youth would continue riding free under Washington's Youth Ride Free program, but many would need Youth ORCA cards to enter and exit gated stations.
Surface stations and locations with physical constraints, such as Stadium Station, are not included in the pilot because of concerns that riders could bypass gates or because station layouts make installation impractical.
If approved, the gates would likely enter service between 2029 and 2030. Early designs for future stations are being modified so that fare gates could be added later without major reconstruction.
