Panel Discussion: Fare Enforcement, Equity, and Social Justice: A Balancing Act
Tuesday, September 10
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Railvolution Conference
Managing fare evasion, especially as features like off-board payment and all-door boarding are expanded, is a challenge. Fare enforcement is a valuable tool for managing farebox recovery and can enhance operator and passenger safety. But it can work against equity goals. In a 2018 study, King County Metro discovered its model of issuing expensive citations and referring citations to the courts for resolution was having adverse impacts, particularly on people of color and vulnerable populations, such as individuals experiencing homelessness. Unresolved, these citations could result in court delinquencies, collections action or misdemeanor charges. How did they redesign programs and policies to create safe and easy access to transit? Hear from advocates and agency and enforcement staff about their collaborative approach.
Moderator: Hester Serebrin, Policy Director, Transportation Choices Coalition, Seattle, WA
Alison Eisinger, Executive Director, Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness, Seattle, WA
Cathy Jimenez, Fare Violation Program Manager, King County Metro Transit, Seattle, WA
Mario Nunez, Fare Enforcement Operations Manager, King County Metro Transit, Seattle, WA
TCC has been working closely with partners at Puget Sound Sage, Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness, Transit Riders Union, and OneAmerica to shift fare enforcement practices. Check out our previous blogs here:
- Moving Towards a Fairer Fare Enforcement System
- Improving Fare Enforcement Can Advance Transit Equity
