Drafter
Clerk 09/24/2024
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AN ORDINANCE relating to public transportation, revising the rate for regular fare; amending Ordinance 19474, Section 1, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.700.010 and establishing an effective date.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. K.C.C. 4A.700.010 provides for fares for regularly scheduled county public transportation service on buses, trolleys, transit vans, dial-a-ride vehicles, and streetcars, including fares for adults, children, youth, seniors and persons with disabilities and low-income riders.
2. The current regular fare is $2.75 for buses, trolleys, transit vans, dial-a-ride vehicles, and streetcars.
3. 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."
4. Beginning in August 2024, Sound Transit's regular flat fare will be $3.00 for Link light rail.
5. The Metro transit department's fund management policies for the public transportation fund, as adopted by Ordinance 18321, provide that the Metro transit department will recover a share of operating costs from farebox revenues for bus service. Fare revenue currently falls below this recovery target.
6. As part of an income-based approach to fares, the Metro transit department offers a reduced low-income fare available to persons who apply for and are determined to meet the threshold eligibility requirements for the low-income transit program authorized under K.C.C. 4A.700.490 and receive a valid low-income transit fare product.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Ordinance 19474, Section 1, as amended, and K.C.C. 4A.700.010 are 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 services on buses...
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