King County Fare Structure Needs Assessment. KCMC Access to Work and School Committee February 2018

Transcription

1 King County Fare Structure Needs Assessment KCMC Access to Work and School Committee February

2 Table of Contents I. Executive Summary... 3 II. Introduction... 4 III. Current Fare Structure... 5 Accepted Payment Options... 5 Fares by Transportation Service Type IV. Successes of Current Fare Structure V. Issues with Current Fare Structure VI. Current Proposals VII. Key Takeaways VIII. Glossary IX. Works Cited

3 I. Executive Summary This is an assessment of the current fare structures for public transportation across King County in Washington State. Two main public transportation agencies serve King County: King County Metro, which operates local and commuter buses, King County Water Taxis (the West Seattle and Vashon routes), and partners with community organizations to provide a variety of transportation options; and Sound Transit, which operates Sounder commuter rail, Link light rail, and regional express buses. The Seattle Streetcars and Seattle Center Monorail are other options for downtown travelers. Additional information on the fare structures of Community Transit in Snohomish County and Pierce Transit in Pierce County is included. A wide variety of human service agencies, clients, and individuals raised issues about current fare structures during outreach events conducted by Hopelink in their respective communities. Many of these issues fall under one of the 5 categories below: 1. Affordability 2. System issues 3. ORCA issues 4. Language and cultural differences, and 5. Regional transit issues The two goals of this report are to create awareness of the current fare structures and the challenges associated with them; and to highlight how various populations are impacted by the current fare system. The document provides next steps on priorities transit agencies should take to address system issues. We hope this assessment will help decision makers make informed policy changes and assist research on fare structures. Please note the information presented in this report is as accurate as the available resources and as of this writing in February We apologize for any errors or omissions. About the King County Mobility Coalition The King County Mobility Coalition (KCMC) coordinates King County special needs transportation to better serve the community. Members include stakeholders ranging from transportation service providers and social service agencies to municipalities, clients, and funders. KCMC brings together individuals and organizations to share information; assess the needs of the local community and current transportation network; provide recommendations to improve the system; and educate decision-makers, community groups, and the public. KCMC has identified access to work and school sites as a top priority. Access to Work and School (AtWS) is a committee of KCMC. The AtWS Committee identifies barriers that populations face in traveling from their homes to their places of work and education. The Committee populations of focus include but, are not limited to, low income individuals, veterans, students, people with disabilities, older adults, and immigrants and refugees. Once barriers have been identified, the Committee will work with regional partners to develop strategies that improve access to work and school throughout King County. 3

4 II. Introduction King County, Washington, the largest and most populous county in Washington, is known for having a variety of transportation options. As the 13th most populous county in the United States, King County is home to many students, immigrants, refugees, and tourists throughout the year. In addition to King County residents and tourists, residents of other Washington Counties travel across King County using transit and other transportation services to access vital medical care and an array of social services. As the number of residents and visitors in King County increase, public transportation becomes more essential. Overly complex fare structures can be a barrier to using public transit. Dow Constantine, the King County Executive, has called the current fare system, one of the most complicated in the country. 1 King County Metro s fares are adopted by the King County Council and established in King County Code section 4A Current fare categories include: Regular off-peak Regular one-zone peak Regular two-zone peak Child Youth Senior and persons with disabilities Low-income. Regional and institutional passes are also available. Further code sections address fares and rules for customized bus service, limited services to special or seasonal activities or events, Vanpools, tickets to human services agencies, visitor passes, transfers, interagency trip agreements, ticket or pass agreements with government agencies and public schools, and vouchers. 2 A public transportation system is only useful if riders or potential riders understand the available fare options and choose their appropriate payment accordingly. If the system is so confusing, users may struggle to know how to pay a fare, anticipate how much to pay, whom to pay, and how to transfer among services--to name a few. Fares must be structured so simply that end users understand immediately how to perform the four actions above. With the variety of transportation services, communities struggle to navigate the available options, understand eligibility for reduced fares, and keep track of fare costs. Many people face challenges every day traveling in and around King County because English is not their first language, they are new to the area, or cross-county travel is required to access medical, employment, education, or a litany of other services. When people encounter difficulties in understanding fares, their trips are cost-inefficient, they take fewer trips, or they avoid public transportation altogether. One-third of riders in a recent King County Metro survey said the current system is too complex and difficult to understand. 3 Transit agencies must consider populations affected by limited English proficiency (LEP), a lack of adequate income to pay for fares, or cumbersome fare payment systems. 4

5 III. Current Fare Structure Below is a summary of the current fare structure for public transportation services across King County. Accepted Payment Options There are several different methods of payment used across Puget Sound transit agencies. The preferred method is the One Regional Card for All, more commonly known as ORCA. Read below to learn about the various types of ORCAs, who is eligible for each, and the logistics required to make these smartcards ubiquitous. One Regional Card for All (ORCA) The preferred method is the One Regional Card for All, more commonly known as ORCA. ORCAs are smartcards for use on the following transit services: Sound Transit (Link light rail, Sounder train, and Sound Transit express buses), King County Metro (all Metro buses, Metro Access (monthly pass only), and King County Water Taxis) Seattle Streetcars Community Transit buses (Snohomish County) Everett Transit buses Pierce Transit buses Kitsap County buses Washington State Ferries ORCAs work like a debit card (through E-purse) or a monthly pass depending on what product you load on the card. Cards will automatically deduct money when it is tapped on the ORCA reader and will automatically calculate fares based on peak times and zones crossed (note: this will be changing in July 2018 for King County Metro when the $2.75 flat fare is implemented). An individual can pay their fare through a monthly pass, an E-purse, or a combination of both the monthly pass and E-purse. To use your ORCA on a bus, ferry, water taxi, or streetcar, simply tap the card on the card reader as you enter. If you are riding Sound Transit Link light rail, you must tap once on the card reader before you enter the train and tap again once after you exit the train. You will hear a beep and see a green light if your funds are sufficient on your ORCA. If you see a yellow light, your funds are low; if you see a red light your funds are insufficient or empty. You must tap your ORCA on a card reader within 60 days of receiving it to activate the card. To add value for immediate use, load money on your ORCA online, at ticket vending machines at transit stations, at a participating retailer, at an ORCA customer service office, or by attending events with ORCA To-Go. Value added by the phone or added manually online can take hours to process to be available for use. ORCAs allow the purchase of electronic daily or monthly passes for unlimited rides, or load value onto an E-purse that works like a debit card to deduct the cost of individual trips taken. E-purse can also be used to pay for rides and transfers for multiple people. The card is valid on transit services within all the ORCA partner agencies and allows for free 5

6 transfers between services (except Washington State Ferries) within a two-hour window. 4 ORCAs are the only fare medium that allows two-hour transfers between agencies (such as King County Metro bus to Link light rail) and transit systems with no additional charge. Types of ORCA Adult ORCA 5 Regular adult ORCAs cost $5.00 and can be purchased at the following locations: Ticket Vending Machines at Sound Transit rail stations Buy and load ORCAs (E-purse, day passes, and monthly passes). King Street Center 201 S. Jackson St., downtown Seattle. Open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday, closed on holidays. Pay with a check and sign up for RRFP, Youth ORCA, and ORCA LIFT (described below). Westlake Station Customer Shop Located at Westlake Station in Downtown Seattle. Buy and reload adult ORCAs. Only open the first four and last four business days of each month. ORCA To-Go Events For a list of ORCA To-Go events, visit Retail locations (QFC, Safeway, Saars Marketplace) Order online Order by mail Adult ORCAs that are lost, stolen, or damaged can be replaced with a $5.00 fee. If the ORCA is defective, there will be no charge. 6

7 ORCA Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) 6 ORCA RRFP cards are for older adults, 65 and older and people with disabilities. This reduced fare program offers the best discounts on rides across the Puget Sound region and costs $3.00. For those 65 and older, you can apply at the King Street Center in person, online, at an ORCA To-Go event, or by mail. RRFPs require proof of age (State ID or Driver s license, or birth certificate). People with Disabilities must apply in-person to get their picture taken at an ORCA To-Go site, or the King Street Center Metro headquarters. Proof of disability status from a medical practitioner must be included in the application. ORCA RRFP s allow for E-Purse and monthly passes to be loaded on the card. If the card is lost, stolen, or damaged, there is a $3.00 fee to receive a new card. RRFP cards that are defective will be replaced free of charge. RRFPs can be shown to the driver to qualify for the reduced fare to pay cash on buses. ORCA Low Income Fare Transit (LIFT) 7 LIFT is a reduced fare based on income eligibility. To be eligible, income must be below the 200% federal poverty level (FPL). The card is free to eligible individuals. You can purchase the card at King County Public Health facilities as well as other certified ORCA LIFT vendors. 8 If your card is lost, stolen, or damaged, you must pay $5.00 to replace the card. Defective ORCA LIFT cards are replaced at no charge. LIFT cards can be loaded with the E-purse and/or pass. Apply in person at one of the authorized enrollment offices around King County with income eligibility documents. Program registration also occurs during community events where LIFT is present in partnership with ORCA To-Go. King County Metro Transit buses, Sound Transit Express buses, Link light rail, Sounder Train, Seattle Streetcar, King County Water Taxi, Kitsap Transit buses. All other ORCA participating agencies will accept the LIFT card like an Adult ORCA and riders will pay the full fare. 7

8 The following transit modes accept the reduced LIFT fare: Transfers to other vehicles/modes are accepted up to value of the initial fare paid. The card is good for two years from the time obtained with the expiration date on the back of the card. You can reapply after the two years if you are still income eligible. The process for re-enrollment is the same. If you decide not to re-enroll in the program, your current card will automatically revert to an adult ORCA and you will pay the regular adult fare. LIFT holders can get a youth card for their children free of charge by applying at any enrollment agency. Proof of age is required when applying for the Youth card. You are also able to fill out a Youth ORCA form at LIFT enrollment locations. Youth cards can also be obtained at ORCA To-Go events and pass sales offices. Youth ORCA 9 This card is exclusively for riders age The card costs $5.00, with the ability to load E-purses and/or passes. Riders need to provide proof of age (Student ID, State ID or Driver s license, or birth certificate), and parents are able to register their children for the program. Apply through mail or in-person at Metro s customer service location. A Youth ORCA will convert to an adult card on the rider s 19th birthday. The rider can continue to use their existing card to pay the adult fare. If the card is lost, stolen, or damaged, riders pay $5.00 for a replacement. If the card is defective, it will be replaced for free. Youth ORCAs are accepted on Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro Transit, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit, and Washington State Ferries. Youth can obtain a free Youth ORCA when their parents qualify for ORCA LIFT. ORCA Payment Methods E-Purse Like a debit card, the E-purse on ORCA stores money that is loaded onto a card. The money is deducted per ride and allows a two-hour transfer window when you tap the ORCA. Users can load as little as $5.00 and a maximum of $ on the card. Metro Transit buses, King County Water Taxi, Sound Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit, and Washington State Ferries all accept E-purse. E-purse is not accepted on King County Metro s Access Transportation. The E-purse can be used to supplement a lack of funds due to a monthly pass being worth less than a higher fare a circumstance that may occur when transferring between modes, zones with fare discrepancies, or regional agencies. To pay for multiple riders on the bus, simply tell the bus operator you are paying for more than yourself and they will adjust the fares accordingly. PugetPass 10 Also known as a regional monthly pass, it is good for unlimited rides during a calendar month. Pass value varies depending on the fare value purchased. 11 These monthly passes vary between $18 a month for a $.50 value card and $360 a month for a $10 value card. Users buy 36 trips at their respective fare rates, with trips beyond that free 8

9 under the unlimited deal. A PugetPass covering an adult fare will be $99 a month ($2.75 value), for LIFT holders the pass will cost $54 a month ($1.50 value), and for RRFP holders the pass will cost $36 a month ($1.00 value). Monthly passes can be set to reload automatically at the beginning of each month or to be reloaded manually for the following month. Agency-specific Monthly Pass A monthly pass loaded on your ORCA that offers unlimited rides for a specific transit agency s fare program. Examples include agency specific transit passes that are cheaper than the PugetPass at full fare value (Kitsap Transit), or non-lift reduced fare programs (Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit), and the Washington State Ferry. ORCA Access Pass 12 A monthly pass loaded on an ORCA for individuals with disabilities approved for Access paratransit service. This monthly pass (currently $63.00) provides unlimited rides on King County Metro buses, King County Water Taxi, South Lake Union Streetcar, Accessible Service Vans, Sound Transit Link light rail, Sounder train, and Sound Transit Regional Express buses. ORCA Regional Day Pass 13 Regional Day Passes allow unlimited rides on buses, trains, streetcars, and water taxis throughout Central Puget Sound region from the time of first use until 3 AM the following day. Day passes are not valid on Washington State Ferries, King County Metro Access, or paratransit services. The passes must be loaded on an ORCA and is not included in the day pass price and will be an extra $3 or $5, depending on the type of day pass purchased. For regular adults, the pass is $8.00 per day for fares up to $3.50; any fare over $3.50 needs to be covered with E-purse funds or paid with cash upon boarding. For those with an RRFP, Youth, or LIFT card, the pass is $4.00 per day for fares up to $1.75. The difference in a higher fare must be paid for by E-purse funds or cash. These passes can be purchased wherever ORCAs are sold and loaded. VanPool Pass 14 A monthly pass available to Vanpool riders that also provides unlimited Metro bus rides. The rider can pay towards his or her vanpool fare (discussed later in the report) with a personal check, ORCA, or employer-provided voucher. There are currently two options available: One-zone pass for fares up to $2.75: $99 per month Two-zone pass for fares up to $3.25: $ per month 9

10 ORCA Business Passport 15 A cost-effective annual ORCA pass program only available through employers. The ORCA Passport pass pricing is based on company location where each employee pass cost the same regardless of the distance of each employee commutes. Employers must purchase ORCA Passport passes for all benefit eligible employees and can cost-share with employees up to 50%. It includes unlimited rides for seven different regional transit agencies (excluding the Washington State Ferry services). It also provides a 100% VanPool and Vanshare subsidy as well as a guaranteed ride home for participating employees in case of emergency. Unlimited rides on all regular bus services on Community Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit, Metro Transit, Pierce Transit, and Sound Transit. Unlimited rides on regular Sound Transit Link light rail service. Unlimited rides on Sounder commuter rail. Unlimited rides on Seattle Streetcar, King County Water Taxi, and Kitsap Foot and Fast Ferry. 100% vanpool fare subsidy on Community Transit, Kitsap Transit, Metro Transit, and Pierce Transit vanpool vans. 100% Vanshare fare subsidy on Metro Transit Vanshare vans. 8 Home Free Guarantee taxi ride in case of personal emergencies. ORCA Multifamily Development Passport 16 An annual transportation pass program that partners with property owners to offer transit passes to residents. Buildings must have a minimum of 20 units, and the pass must be available for every unit. Passport holders can use the card for all participating ORCA agencies except for Washington State Ferries. This program shares costs with residents through rental payments. The costs for property managers to offer this program are proportional to the transit use within a given neighborhood. Price changes for property managers are assessed each year, with adjustments based upon the amount residents used the pass the previous year. Capitol Hill Housing in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation piloted a program to offer discounted monthly transit passes to residents of below market-rate multifamily housing units. Transit passes cost between $10 to $17 per month depending on the building. 17 Buying and Loading an ORCA 18 Value added to cards online, by mail, and through the Metro s customer service phone line can take hours to process and be available for use. After that time, you must tap an ORCA reader and the value will be activated and available. Value added through a ticket vending machine, a participating retailer, or a customer service office will be available immediately. 10

11 Where to Buy ORCA: Online Buy an adult card, load money on the card, and set up an autoload option. ORCAs will reload automatically when funds are low. Autoload is an option for the E-purse and monthly passes and requires a credit/debit card for payment or a bank account routing number. Mail Buy an unregistered adult, senior RRFP, or youth card and add value to the card. Send the mail-in form, proof of age if applicable, and the amount of money to add to the card (accepted forms of payment are money order, check, or credit card). ORCA customer service offices and ORCA To-Go Buy adult, youth, or a RRFP card, add value, set-up autoload, and register cards. Participating retailers Buy unregistered cards (ORCAs not associated to a person) and add value to cards. Phone Call King County Metro Customer Service and buy an adult card, add value to all card types, and register cards. Ticket vending machines Buy an unregistered adult card and add value to all card types for immediate use. Registering ORCAs ORCA allows for registering cards online. Registered cards are linked to a specific rider and allow for online account management. By registering a card, you can view transaction history, loaded products (E-purse and monthly passes), tracking purchases, and report lost or stolen cards. By reporting a lost or stolen card, you can block any ORCA transactions on the card and order a replacement. Another advantage of registering your ORCA is the ability to autoload. Riders can set monthly passes to autoload at the start of every month. E-purse values can also be reloaded automatically if the existing value can t cover fares. Autoloads allow for funds to be used immediately. 11

12 Other Methods of Payment Cash One must have exact fare available as drivers do not carry change. Those without ORCAs and exact change routinely overpay. The driver will provide a paper transfer that is valid only on King County Metro buses for two hours. If traveling on more than one transit system, the rider will have to pay the new fare for each boarding. This can be avoided by getting an ORCA. However, obtaining and keeping track of cards is a barrier for some. Human Service Bus Ticket 19 King County provides subsidized bus tickets to eligible human service providers. One can pay with a paper ticket received from a human service agency. Like cash, the bus operator will give you a paper transfer valid for two hours on Metro buses only. King County Metro and Sound Transit have developed a combination ticket that include two King County Metro bus tickets and a Sound Transit Link light rail day pass that would allow for a transfer between King County Metro buses and Link light rail. However, these tickets cost extra for human service agencies and are not widely distributed. Taxi Scrip 20 Taxi Scrip is a program that serves low-income RRFP holders. The program provides up to seven $10 books of taxi scrip each month from King County Metro at a 50% discount. Recipients of this program can buy scrip by mail or in person at the King Street customer service office. Taxi scrip is accepted by: Farwest Taxi Hawley s Northend Taxi Orange Cab STITA Yellow Cab Eastside for Hire Redtop Cab To qualify for Taxi Scrip, household income must be under the following limits: Size Monthly Income Annual Income 1 $2,698 $32,374 2 $3,528 $42,335 3 $4,358 $52,296 4 $5,188 $62,257 12

13 Transit GO Ticket 21 A mobile ticket purchased on a smartphone on the Transit GO ticket app. Buy as many tickets as you would like, fares are the same as paying with cash. There are four price options available with the Transit GO ticket: youth tickets ($1.50), adult off-peak tickets ($2.50), adult one-zone peak tickets ($2.75), and adult two-zone peak tickets ($3.25). Like cash, you are only able to transfer within the Metro bus system within two hours of activating the ticket. Transfers to and within other systems are not allowed. Once purchased and ready to board, activate the ticket, board the bus, and show the ticket to the bus driver. Fares by Transportation Service Type King County Metro List of Services King County Metro Bus King County Metro RapidRide King County Metro Demand Area Response Transit (DART) King County Metro Community Ride King County Metro Night Owl Bus Special Events Services Water Taxi: Vashon Island-Seattle and West Seattle-Seattle King County Metro Access Paratransit King County Metro Rideshare: a. VanPool a. VanShare a. CarPool a. MetroPool a. SchoolPool a. TripPool a. Community Van 13

14 King County Metro Regular Buses 22 King County Metro has one of the most complex fare structures in the nation, with one zone for the City of Seattle, and another zone for all areas outside the city, but within King County. Anytime a rider crosses the Seattle city limits during peak time (explained below), the rider will be charged a twozone fare. If the trip begins or ends on a zone line, a rider pays a one-zone fare. Riders are also charged extra during the morning and evening commutes. Peak fares are charged for individuals riding in and out of the Seattle downtown area during peak periods. Current peak fares are charged on trips that: Arrive in downtown Seattle between 6 AM and 9 AM or 3:30 PM to 6 PM on weekdays only (Monday thru Friday). Leave downtown Seattle between 6 AM to 8:15 AM or 3 PM to 6 PM on weekdays only (Monday thru Friday). Peak fares are NOT charged on weekends or holidays. The current proposal of eliminating the zonal and peak fares for King County Metro transit has passed through the King County Council. A new fare of $2.75 for regular adult riders will be implemented in July Other fare types for youth, seniors, and low-income individuals will not be affected by the fare change. Until then, the zonal and peak fares riders pay will continue as described above. Fare categories include: Adult years of age Youth 6-18 years of age Children ages 5 and under ride free with a fare-paying passenger (up to four children at one time) Seniors 65 years of age and older Individuals with disabilities Individuals with disabilities that prevent them from riding regular bus service (Paratransit) Low-income adults years of age Human Services Bus Ticket recipients The table on the following page shows the current fares for each eligibility criteria, peak/off-peak times, and zones: 23 14

15 Age Bus/All zones/off-peak Bus/one-zone/peak Bus/two-zone/peak Access-Paratransit Adults (19-64) $2.50 $2.75 $3.25 $1.75 Youth (6-18) $1.50 $1.50 $1.50 N/A ORCA LIFT $1.50 $1.50 $1.50 N/A Seniors (65 +) $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 N/A People with disabilities (PwD) Human Services Bus Ticket $1.00 $1.00 $1.00 N/A $0 $0 $0 N/A King County Metro RapidRide Buses 24 Fares for Metro RapidRide buses follow the same fare structure as regular bus services. Peak and zone prices apply, riders may need to pay upon boarding to make sure they are getting the correct fare. Accepted payment methods include: ORCA (PugetPass or E-purse) Tap the card at ORCA readers at bus stops or when boarding the bus. Valid paper transfer Serves as proof of payment. The rider does not need to show the bus operator and can enter through the back doors but should keep in case a fare enforcement officer asks to see it. Cash or paper tickets Enter through the front door and pay as you would on a regular bus. Exact change needed. King County Metro Demand Area Response Transit (DART) 25 DART is a fixed-route transit service with the flexibility to deviate off-route upon rider request. DART vehicles follow the same fare structure as Metro s regular bus service, including peak and zone prices, even with the addition of deviated routes. Accepted payment methods are the same as regular bus services. King County Metro Community Ride 26 King County Metro partners with Sound Generations on a local neighborhood service for Auburn called Auburn Community Ride. This service is for all trips, providing door-to-door transportation anywhere within city limits. Payment methods include ORCA and the Transit-Go mobile ticket app. ORCA discount programs apply, with full fares at $2.50 one-way. 15

16 King County Metro Night Owl Buses 27 King County Metro offers 18 late night routes between midnight and 5 AM for riders. Fares for Night Owl services are the same as regular bus service and accepts the same payment methods. Special Event Services 28 King County Metro offers various special service transportation options for sports, trailheads, and entertainment events throughout King County. Recognizing that public transportation can cut down on congestion of the event, Metro encourages people to ride public transit. Fares for these events can vary depending on the service. For example, Park and Ride shuttles (operated by Metro Transit) to the University of Washington Football Stadium for Husky games only accept a pre-purchased UW Athletics Season Pass or a purchase of a $7 game voucher at the Park and Ride before boarding. Regular fares, game tickets, ORCAs, university transit passes, and paper transfers are not valid or accepted on the Park and Ride Shuttles. 29 Trailhead Direct is a service that started from a pilot project through King County Parks and Metro s Community Connections program. 30 This service provides rides between Issaquah Transit Center and trails across the I-90 corridor. Regular off-peak Metro fares apply, passengers pay by cash or with an ORCA. King County Metro Water Taxis West Seattle and Vashon Island offer season water taxis. Fare payments are different for each taxi as well as if a rider pays with cash or ticket versus an ORCA. Accepted fare payments: Cash, exact change needed ORCA (PugetPass or E-purse) Paper tickets purchased at terminal (ticket vending machine accepts only credit or debit cards) Transit GO ticket app West Seattle-Seattle Water Taxi (one-way fares) 32 Fare Type Cash or Ticket ORCA Adult (age 19-64) $5.75 $5.00 ORCA LIFT N/A $3.75 RRFP (65+ or PwD) $2.50 $2.50 Youth (age 6-18) $5.75 $3.75 Children (below 5) Free Free 16

17 Vashon Island-Seattle Water Taxi (one-way fares) 33 Fare Type Cash or Ticket ORCA Adult (age 19-64) $6.75 $5.75 ORCA LIFT N/A $4.50 RRFP (65+ or PwD) $3.00 $3.00 Youth (age 6-18) $6.75 $4.50 Children (below 5) Free Free Note: the above fare charges are as of March 1, There are free DART shuttles 773 and 775 available that offer service to and from the West Seattle Water Taxi. Access Paratransit 34 For individuals with disabilities that prevent them from using regular bus service. There is an eligibility process that one must go through before being allowed to ride Access. The standard Access fare for adult and youth is $1.75. There are several payment options available: Cash, exact change is needed. Metro paper ticket worth $1.75 or more. Monthly Access Pass (discussed earlier). Monthly PugetPass worth $1.75 or more. Monthly PugetPass on an ORCA RRFP + $0.75 in cash. There are two things worth noting: 1) Individuals must contact Metro Customer Service before a monthly pass can be accepted as fare on Access and 2) it is suggested that if individuals are going to ride regular buses and do not purchase a Monthly Access Pass, it would be beneficial to purchase a RRFP since it only $1.00 per ride for most services. 35 King County Metro: Rideshare Operations 36 King County Metro Rideshare Operations provides flexibility in meeting transportation needs. Below is a list of ridesharing options that accept different fares than regular transit: VanPool, Vanshare, SchoolPool, TripPool, and MetroPool 17

18 Fare based on number of passengers, miles driven, and days per week. The more people participating, the less fare paid per passenger. Accepted payment methods include an annual business passport, monthly Metro Vanpool passes, vouchers from employers, cash subsidies from employers, and cash/personal check. 37 Community Van An alternative service currently available in Duvall, Bothell/Woodinville, and Vashon that provides group trips through volunteer drivers to popular destinations. Each rider will pay a one-zone Metro fare, while the volunteer driver rides for free. Accepted payment methods include a monthly ORCA PugetPass or the Transit GO ticket app. Sound Transit List of Services Sound Transit Regional Express Bus Sound Transit Link Light Rail Sound Transit Sounder trains: Everett-Seattle and Tacoma-Seattle Sound Transit Express Bus 38 Sound Transit Express buses are county based. The only way to transfer on Sound Transit buses and/or between other transportation systems is by paying with an ORCA. See Figure 3 for county lines. Adult fares range from $2.75 to $3.75 depending on whether your trip crosses county lines. The maximum number of counties cross will be two, as there are no routes that go directly from Pierce to Snohomish County. Sound Transit Express Bus Fare Structure Type of fare One-County Fare Multi-County Fare Adult (age 19-64) $2.75 $3.75 ORCA LIFT $1.50 $2.75 Youth (age 6-18) $1.50 $2.75 Senior/PwD RRFP $1.00 $1.75 Children (Below 5) Free Free 18

19 Note: Sound Transit is currently assessing a fare restructure and these fare totals are likely to change in Accepted payment: ORCA (PugetPass or E-purse) Cash, exact changed needed Link Light-Rail 39 Link fares are based on the length of the trip, starting from the University of Washington station to Angle Lake station. Adult fares range from $2.25 to $3.25 depending on how far you travel. Tickets must be purchased before boarding. Type of fare Cost (one-way trip) Cost (day pass) Adult (age 19-64) $2.25-$3.25 $5.00-$6.50 Youth (age 6-18) $1.50 $3.00 Senior/PwD RRFP $1.00 $2.00 ORCA LIFT $1.50 $3.00 Children (Below 5) Free Free Accepted payment methods: ORCA (PugetPass or E-purse) Paper Ticket Buy a Link light rail ticket from vending machine at station with cash, or by debit/credit card. Transit GO ticket app Sounder Trains 40 The Sounder is commuter rail that has routes between Lakewood and Seattle and Everett and Seattle. Fares are based on distance traveled and range from $1.75 to $5.75. One-way adult (age-19-64) fares range from $3.25- $5.75. Youth (age 6-18) ORCA and ORCA LIFT cards are accepted for a discounted rate ($2.75-$4.25) on Sounder trains. Children age 5 and younger ride free with a fare paying passenger. RRFP cards are also accepted on Sounder trains for a discounted fare of $1.50-$2.50. Riders must pay for fare before boarding train. Accepted payment methods include: ORCA (PugetPass or E-purse) 19

20 Paper Ticket Buy a Sounder ticket from vending machine at station with cash, or by debit/credit card. Transit GO ticket app Another transit pass option is Rail Plus trains (510, 513, 516, and 517) run by Amtrak Cascades and serve Sounder Stations at King Street, Edmonds, and Everett. To ride Rail Plus trains, you must have an ORCA loaded with a monthly pass, an ORCA passport card, or pay the regular Amtrak fare; they do not accept Sounder day passes or single-trip tickets. Seattle Center Monorail 41 The Seattle Center Monorail travels a one-mile route on 5th Avenue from Westlake Center to the Seattle Center. The fares for the Monorail must be paid in cash or Transit GO ticket app before boarding; ORCAs are not accepted. Monorail tickets cannot be used as transfers for other regional transit agencies. The following are the current prices for one-way rides: Adults: $2.50 Youth (age 5-12): $1.25 Reduced Rate (Seniors 65+, people with disabilities, Medicare cardholders, and U.S. Military with ID): $1.25 Children 4 and under ride for free Round-trip rides are simply twice that of the one-way fare. Monthly passes (for the calendar month) are available for unlimited use of the Monorail: Adults: $50.00 Reduced Rate (same as group above) and Youth: $25.00 Monthly passes can be purchased at the ticket booth at either station, online, or on the mobile application called Hopthru. 42 Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Streetcars 43 List of Services South Lake Union Streetcar First Hill Streetcar 20

21 South Lake Union and First Hill Streetcars There are two streetcars available: South Lake Union and First Hill. Both streetcars use the same fare structure and accept the same payment methods. Type of Fare Cost (one-way trip) Cost (day pass) Adult (19-64) $2.25 $4.50 Youth (6-18) $1.50 $3.00 Senior/PwD RRFP $1.00 $2.00 Low-Income (LIFT) $1.50 N/A Children (Below 5) Free Free Day Passes provide unlimited trips on Seattle streetcars only. They must be purchased the day-of use. LIFT fares are only accepted with ORCA payments and not with other accepted payment methods. Transfers to King County Metro and Sound Transit services are only available if a rider pays with an ORCA. The two-hour transfer window will begin when your ORCA is tapped at the streetcar platform, not when you board the streetcar. Accepted payment methods: ORCA (PugetPass or E-purse) Paper ticket from the ticket vending machine at the streetcar platform. The ticket machines accept credit/debit cards and coins only. You can purchase five single-ride or day passes in one transaction. Transit GO ticket app Paper transfer tickets from other agencies are not accepted. Regional Transit List of Services Washington State Ferries Community Transit Pierce Transit Everett Transit Kitsap Transit 21

22 Washington State Ferries 44 ORCA E-purse may be used on Washington State Ferries (WSF) to pay fares. A WSF monthly passenger pass or multi-ride tickets can be loaded on the ORCA. WSF do not accept transfers from other transportation agencies. While RRFP discounts apply for seniors and people with disabilities, ORCA LIFT discounts do not apply to WSF service. Other payment options that are accepted include cash and debt/credit card. Fares will vary depending on whether the rider has a vehicle, including the size and type of vehicle. Types of Fares for Regional Travel ORCAs automatically calculate the two-hour transfer window after tapping the card. If the trip is less than the transfer amount, the ORCA will pay for the difference from the E-purse or the rider will have to pay in cash. King County Metro and Kitsap Transit offer paper transfers that are good within their respective systems. Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit, and Sound Transit do not offer paper transfer tickets of any kind. 45 Sound Transit does not offer paper tickets. Community Transit bus tickets are valid only on Express bus routes operated by the agency (510, 511, 512, 513, 532, 535). King County Metro bus tickets are valid only on ST Express Routes operated by the agency (522, 540, 542, 545, 550, 554, 555, 556). Neither are valid on Sounder trains or Link light rail. 46 Tacoma Link light rail is currently free due to the Business Improvement Area of Tacoma until Community Based Transportation Options List of Services Sound Generations: Volunteer Transportation and Hyde Shuttles Catholic Community Services Volunteer Services Solid Ground Circulator Snoqualmie Valley Transportation Other transportation services for older adults Sound Generations 48 Sound Generations operates a volunteer driver service for trips to medical appointments, and a demand response service called Hyde Shuttles which provides general-purpose rides within a neighborhood zone. Volunteer Driver programs are for those age 65 and older, while Hyde Shuttles is for those age 55 and older and people with disabilities. Both services are free to use, although they do suggest giving a donation. To donate for either service, 22

23 drivers carry pre-stamped business reply envelopes for riders to pay by cash or check. They can also call Sound Generations by phone to donate by credit or debit card. Catholic Community Services 49 Catholic Community Services provides general-purpose rides through its Volunteer Services program. This program relies on volunteer drivers to transport clients. The program is open to those age 60 living on a fixed income with some health/mobility limitations, and people with disabilities. This is a free service for those eligible for the program. Solid Ground Circulator 50 This is a free service targeted to those traveling between medical facilities and human service agencies in Seattle s Downtown and First Hill neighborhood, although riders can use the service for any purpose. The Solid Ground Circulator travels in a fixed-route using shuttle buses with the ability for passengers to hop on. No reservations are required for rides. The circulator is open to everyone, although it is intended for those who are homeless and/or lowincome. Snoqualmie Valley Transportation (SVT) 51 This program is operated by the Mt. Si Senior Center and includes door-to-door and fixed route transportation in the Snoqualmie Valley region. Both services are available for the public and have no eligibility requirements. When possible, SVT directs individuals to their fixed-route options, while door-to-door helps fill in service gaps. They Valley Shuttle (fixed route) has a $1.00 suggested donation whereas the demand response and loop routes at $1.00 per trip. Transfers from King County Metro buses are allowed. Accepted Payment: Cash, exact change needed. ORCAs not accepted on SVT vehicles Other transportation services for older adults There are several transportation services in King County that are run by specific senior centers in partnership with transit agencies, and state and federal grants to provide transportation for older adults. Examples include the Northshore Senior Center Transportation, Kirkland Senior Bus, Eastside Friends of Seniors, and Enumclaw Senior Center Van. Except for the Enumclaw Senior Center Van ($.50 per ride each way), these services are free for riders. 23

24 Higher-Education Transit Programs Higher-education institutions across King County offer varying discounts and incentives for students in accessing transit. The most well-known is University of Washington s U-Pass program, which provides unlimited rides on transit across the Puget Sound region. This is a universal program funded through a service and activities fee levied on every student. Highline Community College provides up to a 15% (maximum of $17.55 per month) reimbursement of ORCA fares for students. Bellevue College offers a subsidy for students that provides a doubling of E-purse value on ORCAs. These passes can be purchased in increments of $60 ($120 value) and $120 ($240 value). ORCA discount programs such as LIFT, RRFP, and Youth cards apply. Seattle Central College (SCC) provides discounted E-purse cards. Students pay $125 per quarter and SCC provides $250 in E-purse value. Users can turn E-purse funds into monthly passes if needed. However, there are some smaller institutions that do not offer any transit benefit for students such as Renton Technical College. 24

25 IV. Successes of Current Fare Structure National Leader in Offering Reduced Fares King County Metro was the first transit agency within the United States to offer a reduced fare (ORCA LIFT) for lowincome adults and free Youth ORCAs for children of LIFT cardholders. They continue to be a leader in offering reduced fares to not only low-income riders, but seniors and riders with disabilities as well with the RRFP (a $1.00 fare). 52 King County Metro and Sound Transit also recently piloted a summer 2017 program targeted to increase transit for Youth (age 6-18). The summer program offered free Youth ORCAs and reduced fare during the summer. There was a 35% increase in King County Metro bus ridership, a 42% increase in Sound Transit Light-rail ridership, and a 25% increase in Seattle Streetcar use among youth during the summer compared to Human Services Bus Ticket Program Finally, there has been increased interest and funding to the Human Services Bus Ticket Program. This program offers a 90% discount on Metro bus tickets for agencies serving homeless and very-low income clients. The program has increased transit use for very low-income people and individuals experiencing homelessness while also connecting them to needed services. The increased awareness of the program has led to more conversations around the mobility challenges these individuals face and possible solutions. The percentage that Human Service Agencies pay has recently decreased from 20% to 10% of the value of an adult fare bus ticket. The program has also received increased amounts of funding, with the most recent addition being $400,000, bringing the total to $4 million per year. 54 Discussion has recently started around the inefficiency of the bus ticket program for participants and staff at the facilities. At a recent County Council meeting, Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles voiced concern about the efficiency of the program, stating that riders receiving the tickets were using them to travel to another human services agency to get another ticket. Ideas around integrating the human services bus ticket program into the ORCA system or implementing an ORCA pilot program are potential projects to address these issues. 25

26 V. Issues with Current Fare Structure Understanding Fare Prices and Payment Method One of the barriers identified in our outreach is the current transit system can be confusing for those unfamiliar with the network. There is often a lack of understanding on the differences between King County Metro and Sound Transit services. Both agencies have complex fare structures, with varying costs for the time of day, the type of ORCA used, and length traveled. Although ORCA calculates fares and transfers automatically, complaints surfaced during outreach events of card balances being different than what an individual had originally assumed. Riders will also pay more than expected if they forget to tap the ORCA after using the Link light rail. Paying by cash adds to the complexity of fares. Riders must carry the exact amount as drivers do not carry change. Riders often overpay their fare. With fares moving to a flat $2.75 value, it is likely that many will end up paying $3.00. There is also confusion with payment methods for alternative transportation such as King County Metro s Community Connections or Rideshare Operations services. Some services accept cash, while others are limited to ORCA payments. Transfer Issues Beyond differences in transit systems and fare structures is transferring between different services. ORCAs have automatic transfers within a two-hour window. Paper tickets can be unclear when they expire for those paying with cash. There is also confusion around the lack of transferring to other services using a paper ticket. This is also the case with bus tickets from social service agencies, which are limited to use on King County Metro buses. Understanding ORCA While ORCA offers a variety of reduced fare programs for riders, the variety of programs causes confusion. Each program varies in eligibility requirements and registration locations. Through our outreach, many were confused between the RRFP and LIFT. While LIFT registration is spread throughout King County at select social service agencies and Public Health offices, RRFP is limited to online/mail applications for seniors, and Metro s customer service center at King Street for riders with a disability, or at ORCA To-Go events. While many outreach and community events around the region give out free ORCAs, they do not often have preloaded funds. Promotional cards may have up to $10 preloaded on them, but there is no ongoing support to provide funds onto existing ORCAs. 26

27 In addition to these challenges, there have been issues with the ORCA system throughout the region. Many ticket vending machines at Transit Centers and Park and Rides are broken and have not been repaired. Besides select retail locations, these ticket vending machines are the only places to purchase and reload an ORCA. There is a lack of ticket vending machines at park and rides and non-rail transit centers. The ORCA website has reliability issues, with frequent scheduled maintenance outages. Language and Cultural Challenges There are additional challenges with limited English proficient (LEP) riders. Many of the signs and fare lists at bus stops and stations tend to be English only, with occasional Spanish translations. Online resources are also largely English only. The significant influx of immigrants and refugees who speak a variety of different languages besides Spanish into the region highlights the need for improvement in this area. Under today s political climate, immigrant communities have been anxious. Many distrust the government and are fearful of their private information being tracked, or their immigration status shared with Federal agencies. This has been a significant barrier for this population in the adoption of ORCA. Affordability The Puget Sound Regional Council estimates that 24% of the population of King County is low-income (defined as having a household income less than 200% of federal poverty level). 55 This statistic provides an estimate of the population for whom income is likely to create a mobility challenge. The price of a regular Adult and Youth ORCA ($5.00) or a RRFP ($3.00) is a barrier for many. During outreach events, there were comments that the extra cost of the ORCA was too much if they use transit sparingly. Occasional riders don t see the benefit of investing in an ORCA and find it a hassle to keep track of the card than to simply pay the cash. This is true for riders above the age of 65 who can pay $1.00. Many are unable to accumulate enough money to purchase a transit pass, which is often cheaper than buying each individual ticket when needed. Since they are forced to buy trip to trip, they end up spending more money. Transit passes are required to be paid all at once. This was highlighted in a community conversation with Jeff Keever of Seattle Central College, as students find it difficult to come up with the money up front to pay for discounted E-purse cards. In South King County, a stakeholder interview with Roxana Pardo Garcia of the South King Council on Human Services (SKCHS) highlighted the impact of unaffordable fares on K-12 students. Transportation benefits from school districts are lacking. Many students who depend on public transit find it difficult to pay for rides even with a Youth card. This leads to fines and in effect criminalizes poverty for these students. 56 On the Eastside, the Redmond Taskforce on Homelessness identified affordability of transit service as a major 27

28 barrier for the homeless population on the Eastside, especially in relation to obtaining and securing employment. The taskforce also acknowledged that there are not enough transit passes available to homeless individuals to use. 57 In Hopelink fare survey outreach, 1/3rd of survey respondents stated that they use or prefer cash as their fare payment. Many said it was simply more convenient to pay with cash. They did not have to go the extra step of loading cash on an ORCA if they already just had the cash when entering the bus. Several survey respondents stated that they were unable to meet the $5 minimum load requirement of an ORCA and therefore just used cash whenever they had it whether it be $1 or $2 at a time. Talking with staff at the Millionair s Charity Club, staff encouraged clients to sign up for ORCA LIFT instead of receiving bus tickets (from the Human Services Bus Ticket Program). However, once clients were signed up for ORCA LIFT, they did not receive any assistance from the Millionair s Club in putting money on their ORCA LIFT card. Therefore, many clients preferred to simply receive the bus tickets since they were free. This was heard from other service agencies as well they are unable to load money on a client s ORCA LIFT card. They then must rely on the bus tickets to help the client instead of contributing money to the ORCA LIFT card. This also creates a dependence for the client on the tickets and it makes mobility difficult if an individual must go to the social service agency every few days to receive tickets. Ben Johnson, Seattle Goodwill, stated students at Goodwill who are eligible for transportation assistance line up every day after classes to receive two bus tickets: one ticket to go home, one ticket to return to classes the next day. Johnson said that this process is cumbersome on staff and students are not able to access all their opportunities if they are worried about how they are going to get to school and back. 28