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A MOTION relating to public transportation; acknowledging receipt of the Cashless Fare Engagement Report submitted in response to the 2026-2027 Biennial Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 20023, Section 116, Proviso P10.
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WHEREAS, the 2026-2027 Biennial Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 20023, Section 116, Proviso P10, states that $100,000 shall not be expended or encumbered until the executive transmits a cashless fare engagement report and a motion that acknowledges receipt of the report is passed by the council, and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 20023, Section 116, Proviso P10 directs that the report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
A. A summary of the engagement efforts the Metro transit department has taken to ensure that transit riders who may face barriers to a cashless transition are prepared for the proposed transition to a system in which cash fares are no longer accepted on board buses, including but not limited, to:
1. Outreach to seniors, particularly those living independently, to provide, promote, and educate on the use of the regional reduced fare permit ORCA card that offers reduced fares for seniors and people with disabilities;
2. Outreach to low-income people to provide, promote, and educate on the use of the ORCA LIFT low-income fare card that offers reduced fares for people with incomes at or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty level;
3. Multilingual outreach to multilingual communities, including coordination with community-based organizations to provide, promote, and educate on income- and age-appropriate ORCA fare cards; and
4. Coordination with human services agencies that purchase fare payment media from the Metro transit department under the program authorized at K.C.C. 4A.700.210 on alternative fare media for that program; and
B. An update on the proposed timeline to a system in which cash fares are no longer accepted on board buses, including the specific achievements the Metro transit department plans to complete prior to presenting a formal proposal to the King County council, which could include an open payment system using mobile phone wallets to pay fares rather than requiring an ORCA fare card, developing virtual ORCA cards that can be installed on mobile phones, expanding the ORCA retail network to provide more locations where transit riders without access to the internet can add value to a fare card, and installing ticket vending machines where transit riders can purchase bus passes, and
WHEREAS, the executive should file the report and motion required by this proviso no later than July 30, 2026, with the clerk of the council, who shall retain an electronic copy and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers, the council chief of staff, and the lead staff for the transportation, economy, and environment committee, and
WHEREAS, the Metro transit department has compiled the required information and the executive has transmitted the Cashless Fare Engagement Report by July 30, 2026, which is included as Attachment A to this motion;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The council hereby acknowledges receipt of the Cashless Fare Engagement Report, Attachment A to this motion, as required by Ordinance 20023, Section 116, Proviso P10.