Seattle Center Monorail Fare Increase
Beginning January 1, 2025, Seattle Center Monorail fares will increase as listed below. The City’s contract with the private operator of the Monorail includes a fare increase schedule to keep up with rising costs and our shared commitment to preserving this historic system.
| One Way Fare | Current Fare | Fare as of 1/1/25 |
| Adult (19-64) | $3.50 | $4.00 |
| Reduced Rate (Seniors 65+, Disabled, Medicare cardholder, Active-duty U.S. military w/ID, ORCA LIFT) | $1.75 | $2.00 |
| Youth (6-18) – NON-ORCA | $1.75 | $2.00 |
| Youth (6-18) – ORCA* | $0 | $0 |
| Children 5 and younger | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly Passes | Current Fare | Fare as of 1/1/25 |
| Adult (19-64) | $70.00 | $80.00 |
| Reduced Rate (Seniors 65+, Disabled, Medicare cardholder, Active-duty U.S. military w/ID, ORCA LIFT) | $35.00 | $40.00 |
*Youth (ages 6-18) with a valid Youth ORCA card will receive $0 fare upon tapping their card at the Seattle Center Monorail. Youth without a valid Youth ORCA card must purchase a monorail ticket from a monorail ticket vending machine. Student IDs & verbal communication of age are not accepted for free youth ORCA fare.
Passengers may purchase monorail tickets online or by using the ticket vending machines located at both Seattle Center and Westlake Monorail Stations.
Since 2019, passengers can use an ORCA card as fare payment on Seattle Center Monorail. Seattle Center Monorail offers a 50% discount on fares for income-eligible residents through the ORCA LIFT Program. Seattle Center Monorail also participates in the ORCA subsidized annual pass program which provides fully subsidized transportation for people who qualify.
Adult monorail monthly passes are available at the ticket vending machines located at both stations. For reduced rate monthly passes, please fill out a form here as additional verification is required.
FAQ
Why are fares increasing?
The fare increase is part of a scheduled adjustment in the City’s contract with the private operator of the Monorail, Seattle Monorail Services, to address rising operational costs and to ensure this historic transportation system is preserved, all without relying on taxpayer funding. The rate increase is limited to reflect the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The additional revenue will support ongoing operations, equipment upgrades, and construction costs, ensuring the Monorail can continue to serve the public efficiently and safely.
Is the Seattle Center Monorail publicly funded by taxpayers?
No. The operation of the Monorail is fully funded by farebox revenue. This model is fundamentally different from the vast majority of public transit systems in our country. Almost every other transit system relies on subsidies from the city or state to operate.
Does the Monorail offer any reduced fares?
Yes. The Monorail participates in the ORCA LIFT Program, which provides a 50% discount on fares for income-eligible residents, and in the ORCA subsidized annual pass program which provides fully subsidized transportation for people who qualify.
The Monorail also provides a 50% discount for seniors (65+), youth (ages 6-18), passengers with disabilities, Medicare card holders, and U.S. military with ID, and free rides for children 5 and younger. Lastly, the Monorail provides free rides for caregivers/personal care attendants accompanying riders with disabilities.
About Seattle Center Monorail
Built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, Seattle Center Monorail travels directly between Seattle Center and Westlake Center (5th Avenue and Pine Street). During normal operating service, the train departs approximately every 10 minutes, and during peak operating service, the trains depart approximately every 5 minutes. Each train can carry up to 250 passengers per trip. The system has undergone significant renovations over the past 15 years to ensure its continued operation well into the 21st century.
Seattle Center Monorail is one of the best modern-day examples of a true public-private partnership. Owned by the City of Seattle and operated by Seattle Monorail Services (SMS), a private company, since 1994. We accomplish something that very few transportation systems in the country have: taxpayers pay none of the Monorail’s operating costs. SMS covers the Monorail’s operating cost through ticket sales, and in fact, returns revenue to the City of Seattle every year through this partnership. The City’s share of the net operating income is used to help underwrite public programming and administrative costs at Seattle Center. Additionally, a portion of Seattle Center Monorail farebox revenue is used to help cover equipment upgrades and construction costs.
About Seattle Center
Connect to the extraordinary at Seattle Center, an active civic, arts, and family gathering place in the core of our city and region. Seattle Center’s 74-acre campus, centered around the International Fountain, is part of the Uptown Arts & Cultural District and home to Climate Pledge Arena; more than 30 cultural, educational, sports, and entertainment organizations; and a broad range of public and community programs. In everything it does, Seattle Center’s mission is to create exceptional events, experiences, and environments which delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities.
