 The regional ORCA card was introduced as an integrated smart card for transit agencies in the Puget Sound region on April 20 , 2009 , allowing users to load monthly passes and value through an e @-@ purse web interface . The card also allowed free transfers within a two @-@ hour period between transit agencies of equal value , with the difference for higher fare subtracted from the e @-@ purse or prompting for cash . While initially available for no fee , effective March 1 , 2010 a $ 5 cost was added when ordering a standard adult or youth ORCA card . CT removed their paper transfers on January 1 , 2010 after the ORCA card made them obsolete . 
