Drafter
Clerk 09/22/2010
Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to public transportation; revising rates of fare; amending Ordinance 13480, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 28.94.015, recodifying K.C.C. 28.94.015 and adding a new chapter to K.C.C. Title 4.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS
1. The rollout of the smart card system for regional fare payment, One Regional Card for All, also known as ORCA, and start of operations of Sound Transit's Link light rail service have resulted in fare coordination issues for customers of public transportation in the region.
2. The Metro transit division 2010-11 budget includes a proviso, in the 2010 Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 16717, Section 131, Proviso P6, which calls for the undertaking of a fare coordination effort with Sound Transit and other regional transit agencies.
3. Staff from the regional transit agencies assembled information on existing and proposed transit fares and identified opportunities for further regional coordination. The general managers of the transit agencies participating in ORCA met in March 2010 to discuss regional fare coordination. To simplify fare payment throughout the region, the general managers recommended the elimination of passes and fares valid on only one agency.
4. In April 2010, Sound Transit, in coordination with King County Metro and the other transit agencies, adopted fare changes to be implemented in 2010 and 2011 that will simplify fare payment for Sound Transit's riders within each county, and that provide King County Metro opportunities to align fares with Sound Transit to further simplify fare payment for transit riders in King County.
5. The changes proposed in this ordinance would eliminate King County Metro-only passes and fares and align fares on bus and light-rail service for seniors and riders with disabilities throughout King County.
6. Fee sections are generally being codified in K.C.C. Title 4, and this ordinance reflects a recodification to that effect.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. A. Section 2 of this ordinance proposes changes in the fares charged for county public transportation services on the bus system.
B. These fees are assessed under K.C.C. 2.99.030.
SECTION 2. Ordinance 13480, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 28.94.015 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
A. Except as may otherwise be provided by ordinance, the following fare categories and rates are established for regularly scheduled county public transportation service on buses, trolleys, transit vans, dial-a-ride vehicles and streetcars:
|
Off-peak |
One-zone Peak |
Two-zone Peak |
Regular fare |
$2.25 |
$2.50 |
$3.00 |
Child fare |
No charge |
No charge |
No charge |
Youth fare |
$0.75 |
$0.75 |
$0.75 |
((Family fare |
$2.25
|
N/A
|
N/A))
|
Seniors and persons with disabilities fare |
(($1.00)) $0.75 |
(($1.00)) $0.75 |
(($1.00)) $0.75 |
The fare categories and rates are subject to, and defined by, the following:
1. The descriptions of transit zones are set forth in K.C.C. 28.94.030;
2. The time-of-day limitations for peak period trips and off-peak period trips are set forth in K.C.C. 28.92.115 and 28.92.100;
3. The child fare is available to persons up to six years old when accompanied by a responsible person paying the proper fare as set forth in this chapter. Up to four children may ride with each responsible person;
4. The youth fare is available to persons from six through eighteen years old and persons over eighteen years old who receive student passes under the provisions of K.C.C 28.94.210;
5. ((The family fare is available to a group that includes a person at least nineteen years old paying a full adult fare and up to four persons eighteen years old or younger. The family fare is valid on Sundays and the days on which the following holidays are legally observed (and on Saturdays on which they occur if different than legally observed): New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr., Day; Presidents' Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day;
6.)) The senior and persons with disabilities fare is available to persons who apply for and receive a regional reduced fare permit. The permits are available to persons at least sixty-five years old and persons with disabilities as provided in the regional reduced fare permit program authorized under K.C.C. 28.94.255; and
((7.)) 6. A person with a disability who has been issued an attendant ride free permit by the department may be accompanied by an attendant, who is not required to pay a fare.
B. A fare in subsection A. of this section is paid when a person pays the appropriate amount in cash or presents an appropriate pass, transfer or other fare payment media established under, and used in accordance with, this chapter.
C. The following fare media are established for use on regularly scheduled county public transportation service on buses, trolleys, transit vans, dial-a-ride vehicles and streetcars:
((1. Weekend/holiday all-day pass.
A weekend/holiday all-day pass may be issued and sold at the price two times the adult off-peak fare plus $0.50 to persons at least six years old. A weekend/holiday all-day pass may be purchased only on Saturdays, Sundays and the days on which the following holidays are legally observed: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr., Day; Presidents' Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day. A weekend/holiday all-day pass entitles persons at least six years old to unlimited rides during the day indicated on the pass;
2. Weekday all-day pass - $6.50.
A weekday all-day pass may be issued and sold at the price indicated to persons at least six years old. A weekday all-day pass may be purchased only on weekdays. An all-day pass entitles persons at least six years old to unlimited rides during the day indicated on the pass;
3. Monthly pass for seniors and persons with disabilities - $24.00.
Monthly passes may be issued and sold at the price indicated to persons who have applied for and received a regional reduced fare permit. The permits are available to persons at least sixty-five years old and persons with disabilities as provided in the regional reduced fare permit program authorized under K.C.C. 28.94.255. The monthly pass entitles the purchaser to unlimited rides during the month indicated on the pass;
4. Annual pass for seniors and persons with disabilities - $150.00
Annual passes may be issued and sold at the price indicated to persons who have applied for and received a regional reduced fare permit. The permits are available to persons sixty-five years of age and older and persons with disabilities as provided in the regional reduced fare permit program authorized under K.C.C. 28.94.255. The annual pass entitles the purchaser to unlimited rides during the year indicated on the pass; and
5.)) Regional fare media.
Regional and institutional passes, in various single-trip value denominations and for various effective periods, may be issued and sold in accordance with the terms of an agreement approved by the county council and entered into with other public transportation providers in the region. Institutions include employers, groups of employers, educational institutions, transportation management associations and other organizations. The various effective periods, single-trip values and prices for the regional and institutional passes shall be established by the agreement. A valid regional or institutional pass may be presented an unlimited number of times during its effective period as full or partial payment of the applicable fare. To the extent the single trip value of the regional pass is not sufficient to cover the applicable fare, the rider shall pay the difference in cash or from an electronic stored value product, such as e-purse.
For institutions entering into an annual institutional pass agreement, the following schedule of calculations shall determine the cost of the annual agreement for King County Metro's portion of the agreement:
First twelve months: Trip Revenue (TR) x baseline trips
Second twelve months: (TR x baseline trips) + [(TR x added trips) x 1/3]
Third twelve months: (TR x baseline trips) + [(TR x added trips) x 2/3]
Fourth twelve months (and subsequent 12 month periods): (TR x baseline trips) + (TR x added trips):
For purposes of this formula, "trip revenue" or "TR" means the weighted average fare per trip determined by the department.
D. The rate of fare for paratransit service shall be $1.25 per trip and $45.00 for a monthly pass.
E. The rate of fare for customized bus service to residents of Center Park, a facility of the Seattle Housing Authority located at 2121 - 26th Avenue South, Seattle, is equal to the paratransit fares specified in subsection D. of this section.
SECTION 3. K.C.C. 28.94.015 should be recodified as a new chapter in K.C.C.
Title 4.
SECTION 4. This ordinance takes effect January 1, 2011.
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Publish official paper 10 days prior
Newspaper: Seattle Times
Publishing: September 22, 2010
Public hearing: October 4, 2010
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