Rider Tools
Commute Calculator
Have you ever wondered what your commute really costs?
Find out with our quick and easy commute calculator! Just enter a few details about your trip and let our calculator do its thing. You might be surprised by the cost of your ride!
What would it cost you to pick another method?
| Method | Monthly Cost |
| Walking | $0 |
|
Biking |
$25 |
|
Transit ORCA PugetPass allows access to Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro Transit, King County Water Taxi, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Seattle Streetcar, and Sound Transit) |
$80 |
|
Vanpool for 6 passengers commuting 25 miles roundtrip in King County |
$81 |
Reasons Why
Want a good reason to take the bus, ride your bike, catch a train, or walk? We have plenty! From saving money to saving the planet, these transportation options can help.
Be Green
- Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Washington State, averaging around 50% for the last several years.
- Seventy percent of cancers caused by airborne pollutants come from diesel exhaust.
- At least 14 million pounds of toxic chemicals flow into Puget Sound every year including motor oil spill, drop, or runoff from paved-over areas.
- In Washington, driving accounts for almost 60% of air pollution.
- Each light rail train can carry 200 people in the space of 3 moving cars.
Save Time
- Work, read, or even nap on bus or train.
- Biking, walking, or taking transit avoids wasted time finding parking, dealing with parking tickets, or being towed.
- Trains and streetcars ar the safest and most reliable forms of transportation during inclement weather.
Be More Active
- One in three Washingtonians doesn’t get enough physical activity. .
- Walking and biking are good exercise and good for your health. They burn calories, build muscle tissue, strengthen the cardiovascular system and help control weight.
- People who take the bus or train are more likely to get their 30 minutes of recommended physical activity each day.
- 3.6 million americans 65 or older stay at home and are less mobile because they lack transportation options.
Be Safe
- In the US, riding a train is 20-30 times safer than driving, and riding the bus is about 60 times safer.
- Walking or biking is about 4 times safer than driving.
- Air pollution from cars has been linked with childhood asthma and stunted lung growth, along with cancer and other health impacts.
Save Money
- Transportation is the second largest household expense, only behind housing.
- Households that live further away from transit spend more than 45% of their budget on housing and transportation costs than households that have transit access.
- The percentage of a family’s income that is spent on transportation is highest for the lowest income earners: 8.2% for high-income and 15.7% for low-income.
- The annual economic impact of car crashes in the US is $277 billlion.
Transportation Resources by County
Select a County
King
Pacific
Whatcom
Skagit
Kitsap
Jefferson
Mason
Grays Harbor
Thurston
Wahkiakum
Cowlitz
Lewis
Clark
Skamania
Okanogan
Chelan
Walla Walla
Spokane
Pend Oreille
Stevens
Ferry
Lincoln
Adams
Franklin
Benton
Grant
Yakima
King (6)
Pacific (1)
Whatcom (1)
Skagit (1)
Snohomish (3)
Pierce (2)
Kitsap (1)
King (2)
Clallam (2)
Jefferson (1)
Mason (1)
Grays Harbor (1)
Thurston (1)
Wahkiakum (1)
Cowlitz (1)
Lewis (1)
Clark (1)
Skamania (1)
Okanogan (1)
Chelan (1)
Kittitas (2)
Asotin (1)
Columbia (1)
Walla Walla (1)
Whitman (2)
Spokane (1)
Pend Oreille (1)
Stevens (1)
Ferry (1)
Lincoln (1)
Adams (1)
Franklin (1)
Benton (1)
Grant (1)
Yakima (1)
Ways to Explore Washington State
You don’t need a car to explore the state! You can get from Seattle to the coast by taking public transportation. Here are some testimonials from people who’ve tried it and resources for you to start your own adventure.
News & Updates
The Clock Is Ticking To Save Bus Service
Think traffic is bad now? It's going to be far worse when tens of thousands of bus riders in the central Puget Sound see their buses cut, forcing them back into a car to drive to work. And worse than traffic, what about the thousands of Washingtonians who will no...
When Is A Tunnel Station Not A Tunnel Station?
Late last week, King County Executive Dow Constantine signed an executive order to further integrate regional transit planning and operations in the Puget Sound. Transportation Choices welcomes this news and continues to appreciate Executive Constantine’s leadership...
Heir To The Gas Tax Throne?
There’s been a lot of focus on current legislative bills designed to provide more – and more flexible –revenue options for local transportation needs. However, recently we’ve been intrigued by an interesting idea for raising revenue that hasn’t yet made it to the...
Honor Your Bus Drivers On March 18
Mark your calendars, bus riders! Monday, March 18th, is Bus Driver Appreciation Day. What is Bus Driver Appreciation Day, you ask? It’s a holiday (started by a couple of Seattle bus riders in 2009) set aside to acknowledge, celebrate, and otherwise lift up all the...
Keep King County Moving
Today, a countywide coalition--made up of business, labor, education, and advocacy groups--called for Olympia to take action on essential local and statewide transportation funding. From the press release: “We’ve significantly reduced Metro’s labor, operating, and...
One Step Closer For Transit Bills
Six weeks of the legislative session are finished and now things are beginning to heat up!. Several key bills that will save transit and invest in walking and biking are gaining traction. It’s now that we need you to tune in, pay attention, and stand up to make sure...
Rep. Farrell Introduces Local Options Bill
Today, former Transportation Choices executive director and newly elected 46th district representative, Jessyn Farrell, introduced HB 1959, a bill that would authorize local funding options for transit agencies. “With more commuters than ever choosing public transit...
Let’s Get This Right
As you may have heard, House Transportation Chair Rep. Judy Clibborn has released a transportation package for consideration in 2013 Legislative Session. This $10 Billion package seeks to raise new revenue to pay for road projects, maintenance and operations,...
Transportation Choices Supports A Low-Income Fare
This is a guest post by Jasmine Beverly, our rock star intern. Due to multiple fare increases and the elimination of the Ride Free Area in downtown Seattle, it has become more difficult for many King County residents to get around using public transportation. To...
Books On The Bus Winter Selection
I'm excited to announce our winter BOB selection: Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler. In case you haven't yet had the pleasure of reading her work, Octavia Butler was a celebrated speculative fiction writer and a recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation...
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