King County Metro Transit
King County Metro Transit is a public government agency operating bus, BRT, rail, water taxi, and vanpool services across 34 cities in King County, Washington, serving 2.3 million residents with 200,000+ daily boardings and transitioning to a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2035.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What King County Metro Transit does
King County Metro Transit is a public government transit agency and division of King County government, founded around 1970 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It operates one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the Pacific Northwest, serving approximately 2.3 million residents across 34 cities within King County. Core service offerings include fixed-route bus service, the RapidRide bus rapid transit (BRT) network, electric trolley bus and battery-electric bus fleets, light rail connections operated in coordination with Sound Transit, water taxi service (Vashon Island and West Seattle), vanpool and Community Van programs, and Metro Flex on-demand transit. The agency records 200,000+ daily boardings and supports sub-brands including ORCA regional fare card, Transit GO Ticket mobile app, and Accessible Services for disabled riders.
The agency's underlying technology platform is primarily physical transit infrastructure — bus fleets transitioning to 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035, electric trolley infrastructure, rail track, water taxi vessels, and EV charging depots — augmented by customer-facing digital tools (Trip Planner, Next Departures, Transit GO Ticket) and a Salesforce-based customer service portal. Recent technology investments include a Heliox 480 kW DC fast EV charger pilot and a University Bridge trolley pole replacement project to support the future RapidRide J Line.
The revenue model is a hybrid of fare collection (transaction-based), recurring sales tax revenue (Seattle transit sales tax proposed to double to 0.3% in 2027, generating an estimated $138M annually), federal grants (including $33.5M from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 30 battery-electric buses), and ancillary services such as wastewater treatment. GTM motion is direct-to-consumer for general ridership, event-driven for special services (World Cup 2026, Trailhead Direct), and enterprise for employer programs (ORCA Business, Commute Trip Reduction). Customer segments include general public, low-income riders via ORCA LIFT, seniors and disabled riders via Regional Reduced Fare Permit, and employer partners; pricing includes free youth fares (under 18), reduced fares for income-qualified riders, and standard per-trip fares around $3.
King County Metro Transit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- King County Metro Transit
- Legal name
- King County Metro Transit
- Website
- https://kingcounty.gov
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- King County Metro Transit is a public government agency operating bus, BRT, rail, water taxi, and vanpool services across 34 cities in King County, Washington, serving 2.3 million residents with 200,000+ daily boardings and transitioning to a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2035.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
King County Metro Transit industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Transit Services
- NAICS
- Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Mixed Mode Transit Systems (485111), Urban Transit Systems (48511), Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (48521)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Transit Agencies (Bus, Rail, Metro, Paratransit) (BPAIALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Suburban/Regional Commuter Bus Operators (TLAFAGAC), Urban & Commuter Ferries (Scheduled Public Service) (THAIAJAA), Park-and-Ride Facilities & Transit Parking (THAIALAI), Shuttle, Park-and-Ride & Mobility Hub Operations (BPABAKAI), Metro/Subway Stations (THAIALAB)
Keywords
Where King County Metro Transit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
King County Metro Transit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Transit Fares: Fare collection from bus, rail, and water taxi riders; county code requires portion of funding from fares; moving toward cashless payment
- Seattle Transit Sales Tax: Seattle transit sales tax at 0.15% proposed to double to 0.3% in 2027, estimated to raise $138M annually and increase King County Metro bus funding by 50%
- Federal Grants: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding from U.S. Department of Transportation for zero-emission fleet transition
- Wastewater Treatment Services: Regional wastewater conveyance and treatment system supporting economic development
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard bus fare for Golden Gardens Direct summer route |
| Subscription | Monthly | ORCA LIFT reduced fare program |
| Subscription | Monthly | Regional Reduced Fare Permit |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
King County Metro Transit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
King County Metro Transit operates a comprehensive public transportation system serving King County, Washington, including fixed-route bus service, RapidRide bus rapid transit (BRT), water taxi, rail connections, vanpool programs, Metro Flex on-demand service, and Community Van. The agency also delivers accessibility/paratransit services, the ORCA regional fare card system, and Transit GO mobile ticketing, supported by the Metro Transit Police Department for security across 200,000+ daily boardings.
Product overview
King County Metro Transit operates a comprehensive public transportation system serving King County, Washington. The agency provides fixed-route bus service, rail travel, water taxi, demand-responsive services (Metro Flex, Community Van), vanpool programs, and the RapidRide high-frequency bus network. The transit system is complemented by the Metro Transit Police Department for safety and security, fare collection via ORCA cards, and various rider programs. The agency is undergoing a major fleet electrification initiative to achieve a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2035.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RapidRide: Bus rapid transit service connecting communities with frequent, all-day service and enhanced stations.
- Water Taxi
- Metro Flex
- ORCA
- Transit GO Ticket
Products and services
- Metro Bus Service
- RapidRide
- Metro Flex
- Community Van
- Vanpool and Vanshare
- Water Taxi
- Rail Travel
- ORCA Card
- Transit GO Ticket
- Accessible Services
- ORCA Business
- Commute Trip Reduction
- Home Free Guarantee
- Golden Gardens Direct
Quantifiable outcome
- 30 battery-electric buses funded through federal infrastructure law
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use King County Metro Transit
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
King County Metro Transit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
King County Metro Transit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Heliox (Siemens Business)coreHeliox partnered with King County Metro to pilot the Flex Pro 480 kW DC fast EV charger for transit depot needs in Seattle metropolitan area. The system offers Build America, Buy America compliance and 24-month warranty, supporting fleet electrification goals.
- Sound Transit PolicecoreJoint Transit Anti-Terrorism Team (JTATT) partnership providing dedicated anti-terrorism operations, visible deterrence, and mass casualty response training for civilian and commissioned employees.
- Local Law Enforcement AgenciesminorMetro Transit Police coordinates with local agencies across police jurisdictions as buses operate through different areas, ensuring comprehensive coverage and response.
- King County Department of Community and Human ServicescoreBehavioral Health Support Pilot Program partnership providing de-escalation, crisis intervention, peer support, and social service referrals at Aurora Village and Burien Transit Centers (6 p.m. - 2 a.m.).
- City of SeattlecoreLaunched Golden Gardens Direct summer bus route to address park accessibility challenges, reduce traffic congestion and parking demand at Golden Gardens Park.
- Sound TransitcoreLocal funding support for Sound Transit projects including West Seattle Link Extension, Ballard Link Extension, and Graham Street Station under proposed Seattle transit tax increase.
- Seattle Department of TransportationminorCoordinating on University Bridge Trolley Pole Replacement Project overlapping infrastructure to minimize public disruption during construction.
- Washington State Department of TransportationminorCoordinating on University Bridge Trolley Pole Replacement Project overlapping infrastructure to minimize public disruption during construction.
- Sound TransitcoreUniversity Bridge trolley infrastructure improvements supporting future RapidRide J Line upgrade.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
King County Metro Transit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chicago Transit Authority (CTA): Municipal transit operator providing bus and rail service across Chicago. Comparable large-urban public transit agency with multi-modal fleet operations and reduced fare programs.
- Sound Transit: Regional transit authority serving the Puget Sound region with light rail, commuter rail, and express bus. Operates in overlapping service territory with King County Metro and is referenced as a frequent coordination partner on West Seattle/Ballard Link Extensions.
- Los Angeles Metro: Major U.S. municipal transit agency operating bus, rail, and BRT across Los Angeles County. Directly comparable as a large multi-modal public transit operator pursuing aggressive fleet electrification.
- Washington State Ferries: State-operated ferry system providing passenger water transport across Puget Sound. Compares directly to King County Metro's Water Taxi service for waterborne public passenger transit.
Regional players
- Pierce Transit: Public transit agency serving Pierce County, Washington — adjacent to King County. Provides comparable fixed-route bus service in a neighboring metropolitan area and participates in the regional ORCA fare system.
- Community Transit: Public transit agency serving Snohomish County, Washington, with bus and Swift BRT service. Comparable public transit model in a neighboring Puget Sound county and ORCA system participant.
- TriMet: Public transit agency serving the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area with bus, light rail, and streetcar. Comparable mid-size Pacific Northwest transit operator with similar service mix and equity programs.
Broad incumbents
- New York City Transit (MTA): Largest public transit agency in North America operating subway, bus, and paratransit in NYC. Functions as a much larger municipal transit peer with similar fixed-route bus, rail, and accessibility service mix.
- Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT): Municipal transportation agency that owns street infrastructure and coordinates with King County Metro on trolley pole replacement and RapidRide corridor projects. Operates overlapping mobility functions within Seattle city limits.
Emerging players
- Via Transportation: Technology company providing on-demand transit software and microtransit services to public transit agencies, including comparable on-demand transit models to Metro Flex.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
King County Metro Transit social profiles
Digital presenceKing County Metro Transit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
King County Metro Transit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
King County Metro Transit subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
King County Metro Transit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
King County Metro Transit M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about King County Metro Transit
What does King County Metro Transit do?
King County Metro Transit operates a comprehensive public transportation system serving King County, Washington, including fixed-route bus service, RapidRide bus rapid transit (BRT), water taxi, rail connections, vanpool programs, Metro Flex on-demand service, and Community Van. The agency also delivers accessibility/paratransit services, the ORCA regional fare card system, and Transit GO mobile ticketing, supported by the Metro Transit Police Department for security across 200,000+ daily boardings.
Is King County Metro Transit a public or private company?
King County Metro Transit is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was King County Metro Transit founded?
King County Metro Transit was founded in 1970. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is King County Metro Transit based?
King County Metro Transit is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does King County Metro Transit make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Transit Fares are the primary driver. The others are seattle Transit Sales Tax, federal Grants and wastewater Treatment Services.
Who are King County Metro Transit's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Sound Transit, Los Angeles Metro and Washington State Ferries. Regional players are Pierce Transit, Community Transit and TriMet. Broad incumbents are New York City Transit (MTA) and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). Via Transportation is listed as an emerging player.
Does King County Metro Transit have an API?
No public API is recorded for King County Metro Transit.
What industry is King County Metro Transit in?
King County Metro Transit's product category is Public Transit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIALAB, Public Transit Agencies (Bus, Rail, Metro, Paratransit), with a secondary code of TLAFAGAC, Suburban/Regional Commuter Bus Operators. Its NAICS code is 485113 and its SIC code is 4100.