King County Council approves transit fare increase, creation of low-income fare program

The Metropolitan King County Council approved an across-the-board increase in transit fares Monday in an attempt to prevent losing up to 17 percent of Metro Transit service. In conjunction with the fare increase, the Council also created a low-income fare program.

The ordinance calls for King County Executive Dow Constantine to transmit the Low-Income Fare Program Implementation Plan to the Council by June 1 with the goal of Council adoption later in the year.

“Creating a low-income fare is not only a historic move, but more importantly it helps ensure that populations who rely on transit most to get to jobs, classes, and medical appointments aren’t priced out of the system,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips. “With our action today, King County is just the second major jurisdiction in the nation to address equity in access to transit through a low income fare program.”

The fare increase, which would be implemented in March 2015, would raise fares by 25 cents for all fare categories for Metro Transit bus service. Fares for Access paratransit service would be increased by 50 cents in order to move toward the County’s policy goal of achieving parity between the Access fare and off-peak adult fare over time.

“These low-income fares will help provide the needed mobility for access to jobs, education and medical care for individuals, families and the homeless affected by our challenging economy,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague.

The legislation would also require the Transit Division to send the Council a low-income fare program implementation plan. If a program implementation plan is adopted by the Council, a low-income fare program for transit riders would be established using the existing ORCA or One Regional Card for All system.

“It is essential that all people, regardless of their income level, have access to public transportation, said Councilmember Rod Dembowski, Chair of the Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee, and ordinance cosponsor. “I am proud of the financially responsible ordinance that we passed today. In raising fares to support Metro, and instituting a low-income fare to ensure all riders continue to have access to reliable transportation, we have reached the correct balance that I believe will benefit all of King County.”

If an interlocal agreement is reached with the King County Transportation District for the distribution of voter approved revenues, the fare would start in 2015 at $1.25 for eligible adults and the youth fare would remain at $1.25, with these fares rising to $1.50 in 2017. Absent the interlocal agreement, the low-income fare and youth fare would be set at $1.50 starting in 2015.

The eligibility threshold for the low-income fare would be 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, currently $22,980 for an individual. Adults in a family of four earning up to $47,100 would also be eligible.The low-income fare was recommended by the Low-Income Fare Options Advisory Committee that issued its report in mid-2013.

The focus of the committee was to ensure that even during the current funding crisis for transit, low-income adults would have more affordable transit options for their transportation needs.

To develop the low-income fare program, the Transit Division will work with human service agencies to address eligibility and program delivery. In addition, program assumptions include:

· Each eligible adult would be allowed to have one low-income fare ORCA card, and each card must be registered in the ORCA system to an eligible adult;

· The low-income fare would only be available through the use of ORCA cards, not cash payments; and

· Eligibility would be re-verified every other year.