Low income transit fare in King County?

[eridani]

WHEN
Friday July 12, 2013, 12-1:00 PM
WHERE
Room 121
King County Chinook Building
401 5th Ave., Seattle


This year while all the focus has been on Olympia, a group of King County stakeholders has been working to assess the feasibility of a low-income transit fare. Get the first peek at their recommendations at our July Friday Forum.

In 2012, the King County Council voted to establish the Low-Income Fare Options Advisory Committee, a group of diverse stakeholders charged with reviewing Metro's current reduced fare options, and developing recommendations for a new low-income fare program.

Guided by the principle that a low-income fare is critical to providing all people and communities with dignified and affordable transportation options, the advisory committee discussed and developed recommendations on the definition of "low-income," options for verifying eligibility, fare price points, and how, even in the face of looming bus cuts, Metro might fund the implementation of a low-income fare.

Join our panel - with representatives from both the advisory committee and King County Metro - to discuss the committee process and perspectives, as well as the real-world potential for a low-income fare.

Doug Hodson, King County Metro
Alison Eisinger, Executive Director, Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness
Kate Joncas, President and CEO, Downtown Seattle Association

See you next Friday!

Shefali Ranganathan
Director of Programs

[eridani]

1. Rod Dembowski of the 1st council district is pushing this

Got the following recently--if you live in his district, thank him for this.

Thank you for recently signing a petition in support of a low-income bus fare program. The petition was distributed to all councilmembers during a recent County Council Meeting, and I write to provide you with an update.

As you may know, a committee of twenty-one stakeholders from community organizations and from King County departments came together over a six month period to deliberate the merits of a low-income fare option for low-income individuals. I am pleased that the committee recommended the implementation of a low-income fare so low-income income individuals who rely on Metro Transit and who are disproportionately impacted by paying a full fare can maintain access to regional mobility.

With this committee recommendation in hand, the Council is now deliberating a change in the Metro fare structure. As a member of the Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee and Chair of the Regional Transit Committee, I am committed to ensuring that any changes to the Metro fare structure address a low-income fare option. A low-income fare would provide a crucial safety net to many low-income people and families who rely on access to transit to go to their jobs and carry out daily errands.

Thank you again for advocating for a low-income fare for King County Metro Transit. I will keep your support for a low-income fare in mind while we continue to deliberate. If you have any questions or if I can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me at 206-477-1001 or at [e-mail].