Drafter
Clerk 11/13/2008
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AN ORDINANCE relating to public transportation; revising rates of fare; and amending Ordinance 13480, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 28.94.015, Ordinance 13480, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 28.94.015 and Ordinance 12643, Section 19, as amended, and K.C.C. 28.94.245.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. Over the past few months, worldwide petroleum prices have reached record levels of volatility resulting in a significant fluctuation in fuel prices.
B. The latest projections of sales tax revenue, the primary source of transit funding, indicate a significant reduction in 2008 and future years, even as inflation has driven up the cost of wages and other costs to Metro Transit.
E. The County Council intends to work closely with the Executive and the Metro Transit Division to identify and implement solutions to this multi-year funding that preserve existing and planned new bus service. The Council will work with riders, employers, other governments, valued employees, and other stakeholders to achieve financial stability and to preserve transit service.
F. Preservation of servie is critical in light of record ridership growth as customers respond to increasing fuel prices by moving to public transportation. Transit service is also critical to the achievement of regional growth management, economic development, and environmental goals.
G. A fare increase is one necessary and immediate action to help preserve existing and future expansion of the Metro Transit system.
SECTION 2. A. Section 4 of this ordinance proposes changes in the fares charged for county public transportation services on the bus system. Section 6 of this ordinance increases the annual limit on the discount provided for Human Services Tickets. Section 8 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 3. Section 4 of this ordinance takes effect February 1, 2009.
SECTION 4. 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 |
(($1.50)) $1.75 |
(($1.75)) $2.00 |
(($2.25)) $2.50 |
Child fare |
No charge |
No charge |
No charge |
Youth fare |
$0.75 |
$0.75 |
$0.75 |
Family fare |
(($1.50)) $2.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
Seniors and persons with disabilities fare |
$0.50 |
$0.50 |
$0.50 |
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 seventeen years old and persons over seventeen years old who attend regular sessions of junior or senior high school;
5. The family fare is available to a group that includes a person at least eighteen years old 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: 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. 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 passes 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 - (($3.50)) $4.00.
A weekend/holiday all-day pass may be issued and sold at the price indicated 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 - (($5.50)) $6.00.
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 - $9.00.
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 - $99.00.
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 passes.
Regional 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. The various effective periods, single-trip values and prices for the regional passes shall be established by the agreement. A valid regional 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.
D. The rate of fare for paratransit service shall be ((75 cents)) $1.00 per trip and (($18.00)) $27.00 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 5. Section 6 of this ordinance takes effect February 1, 2009.
SECTION 6. Ordinance 12643, Section 19, as amended, and K.C.C. 28.94.245 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
The director is authorized to establish a program for the sale and distribution of tickets to human service agencies at twenty percent of their cash value for the purpose of meeting the transportation needs of low income and homeless populations. The total amount of the eighty percent discount provided under the program shall not exceed one million ((three hundred and twenty-five)) five hundred thousand dollars for any one year. The allocation of discount tickets under the program shall be made by the director in conjunction with local jurisdictions and the county's department or departments responsible for human services programs. The local jurisdictions and the county department or departments shall determine the number of tickets from their respective allocations which shall be sold to the human service agencies eligible under the program. Tickets sold under the program are valid on all public transportation and paratransit service.
SECTION 7. Section 8 of this ordinance takes effect January 1, 2010.
SECTION 8. 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 |
(($1.75)) $2.00 |
(($2.00)) $2.25 |
(($2.50)) $2.75 |
Child fare |
No charge |
No charge |
No charge |
Youth fare |
$0.75 |
$0.75 |
$0.75 |
Family fare |
$2.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
Seniors and persons with disabilities fare |
(($0.50) $0.75 |
(($0.50) $0.75 |
(($0.50) $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 seventeen years old and persons over seventeen years old who attend regular sessions of junior or senior high school;
5. The family fare is available to a group that includes a person at least eighteen years old 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: 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. 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 passes 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 - $4.00.
A weekend/holiday all-day pass may be issued and sold at the price indicated 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 - $6.00.
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 - (($9.00)) $18.00.
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 - $99.00.
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 passes.
Regional 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. The various effective periods, single-trip values and prices for the regional passes shall be established by the agreement. A valid regional 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.
D. The rate of fare for paratransit service shall be $1.00 per trip and $27.00 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.