Six months after the members of the Low‐Income Fare Options Advisory Committee presented their final recommendations to King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Council, the Executive’s office delivered a like-minded proposal to the Council for implementing a low-income fare for Metro.
At its proposed rate of $1.50, the low-income fare would provide a more affordable bus ride for lower income riders that don’t already qualify for Metro’s existing discounts (for seniors, youth, and disabled riders). Affordable transportation is a key part of making King County a livable place with thriving communities, and can make the all the difference in someone’s ability to get to a job, school, child care or the grocery store.
While the proposed fare is at the higher end of the range explored by the committee last year, the Executive’s office has recommended a more expansive definition of “low-income” in the hopes of capturing a larger population of riders who could benefit from the reduced rate. Riders earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level ($47,100 annually for a family of four) would be eligible for the low-income fare, which would be paid using an ORCA card e-purse or unlimited monthly pass (at the discounted rate of $54). The current subsidized bus ticket program, which provides heavily discounted tickets to human service agencies for distribution to homeless populations, will remain unchanged.
Metro estimates that 15-22% of its riders would qualify for the discounted rate, but that doesn’t, of course, include future riders who have previously been prohibited from riding Metro by the current price structure. The details of how the ORCA cards would be distributed and income eligibility verified have yet to be solidified, but Metro hopes to partner with human service organizations around the county to increase accessibility to the service.
The one and only public hearing on the low-income fare will take place the evening of February 4th. We hope you’ll join the members of Transportation Choices in showing your support for this step toward an equitable transportation system. Details on location will be provided soon.
