Drafter
Clerk 09/24/2024
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to public transportation, revising Water Taxi rates of fare; amending Ordinance 18411, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.700.820 and establishing an effective date.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. K.C.C. 4A.700.820 provides for fares for regularly scheduled county passenger ferry service, including fares for adults paying in cash or with a prepaid fare product, children, youth, seniors and persons with disabilities, and low-income riders.
2. The current fare rate on the West Seattle Water taxi route for adult cash fares is $5.75, and for adult regular prepaid fares is $5.00. The current fare rate on the Vashon Island water taxi route for adult cash fares is $6.75, for adult regular prepaid fares is $5.75.
3. K.C.C. 4A.700.820 establishes that " fare categories and rates are subject to, and defined by” several factors, including that “[a]ll fares shall be established only for a one-way trip,” “[a]ll fares shall be rounded up to the next whole twenty-five cent increment,” “[t]he cash fare is determined by adding a fifteen-percent surcharge to the regular prepaid fare and applies to cash and ticket purchases,” and “[t]he low-income fare shall be twenty-five percent less than the regular fare."."
4. The King County Metro Strategic Plan for Public Transportation, 2021-2031, as adopted by Ordinance 19367, includes a strategy to "Align fares with other service providers, meet revenue targets, and advance equity through Metro's income-based approach to fares."
5. Washington state Ferries will implement a 4.25 percent increase to adult fares in October 2024.
6. Plans for water taxi service and capital investments assume periodic fare increases to adult fares.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. 18411, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.700.820 are hereby amended to read as follows:
A.1. Except as may otherwise be provided by ordinance, the following fare categories and rates are established for regularly scheduled passenger ferry service:
|
One-Way Water Taxi Fares |
West Seattle Water Taxi Route |
Vashon Island Water Taxi Route |
|
Cash fare |
(($5.75)) $6.25 |
(($6.75)) $7.00 |
|
Regular prepaid fare |
(($5.00)) $5.25 |
(($5.75)) $6.00 |
|
Child fare |
No Charge |
No Charge |
|
Youth fare |
No Charge |
No Charge |
|
Senior and persons with disabilities fare |
$2.50 |
$3.00 |
|
Bicycle fare |
No Charge |
No Charge |
|
Low-income fare |
$3.75 |
$4.50 |
2. The fare categories and rates are subject to, and defined by, the following:
a. All fares shall be established only for a one-way trip;
b. All fares shall be rounded up to the next whole twenty-five cent increment;
c. The cash fare is determined by adding a fifteen-percent surcharge to the regular prepaid fare and applies to cash and ticket purchases;
d. The regular prepaid fare is established as the base rate for persons nineteen years old and older using ORCA prepaid fare media;
e. The child fare is available to persons five years and under when accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other person aged sixteen or older and paying the proper fare as set forth in this chapter;
f. The youth fare is available to persons from six through eighteen years old and persons over eighteen years old who receive valid student pass transit-fare products under K.C.C. 4A.700.450;
g. 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;
h. A person with a disability who has been issued an "attendant ride free" permit as authorized under K.C.C. 4A.700.010 may be accompanied by an attendant, who is not required to pay a fare;
i. A person who has paid fare may bring a bicycle onto a water taxi at no additional charge, up to the water taxi's bicycle capacity; and
j. The low-income fare is available to persons who apply for and are determined to meet the threshold eligibility requirements for the low-income transit fare program authorized under K.C.C. 4A.700.490, when effective, and receive a valid low-income transit fare product. ((The low-income fare shall be twenty-five percent less than the regular 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.
SECTION 2. This ordinance takes effect September 1, 2025.