Tacoma Essentials
- Use an ORCA card.
- See Seattle for more on ORCA.
- Tacoma Link light rail works about as expected
Pros
- Same payment system as Seattle
- Accessible trains
- Tacoma Link connects easily to Sounder and Amtrak
Cons
- Limited frequency on Tacoma Link
Traveled May 2025
Tacoma Link
I rode the Tacoma Link streetcar. The first stop is right at the Amtrak station. It was super convenient. Cross one narrow not-busy street and you’re there.
Also, it’s right by the Tacoma Dome. Having a huge venue right next to an Amtrak station, light rail, and the Sounder commuter rail line is excellent planning.
Payment runs on ORCA, the same system as Seattle. I already had an ORCA card, so this made it really easy. I made sure I had some money on it, tapped at the station, and got on.
Unfortunately, the first mile or so is single-tracked. That is, there’s only one track for both directions. This limits how frequently the train can run. You can only have one train on that whole segment at a time. The train goes to the last stop, hangs out a few minutes while the operator goes to the opposite side of the train, then goes in the opposite direction. Only after it’s gone a couple more stops can another train pass it in the other direction.
So, the frequency isn’t the best. Once every 12 minutes at best, sometimes longer. Some of the stations aren’t in the friendliest parts of town, so waiting for it wasn’t great.
The trains themselves were nice, modern streetcars. Wheelchair accessible, with digital signage indicating which side the doors will open, the works. The stations are spacious and easy to find.
It doesn’t go that many places, and downtown Tacoma is pretty sleepy, but for my purposes, it worked really well. Also, I think they’re planning to extend the line further.
I was only there for a night, and I didn’t take the bus anywhere. Maybe next time. I did visit the Museum of Glass, which was fantastic. Highly recommend. Also some good coffee and donuts and a fun little shop of random things.
