Income-Based Fares
We are working to make transit more affordable for those with the lowest incomes.
We’ve already implemented a reduced transit fare program called ORCA LIFT for people with household income of less than double the federal poverty level. However, we know that is still not affordable for some people in King County due to the high cost of living in this region.
What's coming up
The King County Executive transmitted an implementation plan for a new ORCA LIFT subsidy, aimed at serving people in extreme poverty, to King County Council on December 18th. The King County Mobility and Environment Committee is expected to discuss this at their regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 12.
How has Metro made fares more affordable?
King County Metro has long offered discounted fares to make transit service more affordable and accessible. In addition to existing programs for youth, seniors, and disabled riders, Metro recently expanded the Human Services Ticket Program and introduced the ORCA LIFT low-income fare in 2015.
The ORCA LIFT program offers a reduced transit fare for people with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Enrollment is available at locations across King County and partner agencies like King County Public Health verify income of participants through existing benefits programs like Apple Health, Social Security and Employment Security.
Metro reached out to the public in spring 2017 to develop recommendations for simplifying fares. We created a stakeholder advisory group, briefed and interviewed interested groups, and gathered two rounds of public feedback. This led the Executive to propose a simplified fare structure of a flat fare of $2.75 at all times, regardless of time or distance, which was adopted by King County Council and took effect in summer 2017.
In the past few years, we also:
- Increased the funds available to provide human service agencies with fare tickets for their clients with no or low incomes in 2018.
- Worked with regional partners to eliminate ORCA card fees for seniors and people with disabilities who qualify for the Regional Reduced Fare Permit.
Still, these efforts did not address the full range of fare issues that we have heard about from customers. We know there is still a need for more affordable fares for those with the lowest incomes.
Why an income-based approach?
In a report to King County Council in September 2018 (responding to motion 15171), Metro analyzed potential programs to increase transit affordability and access for a variety of markets including youth, subsidized housing residents, students in postsecondary and training programs and people with zero or very low income. After analyzing potential options for each market, we concluded that special pricing for each group would not be the best way to increase transit access.
Instead, we proposed a comprehensive, income-based approach to fares, which would be the most equitable, viable and able to build on the existing low-income programs that Metro offers like ORCA LIFT.
Open the Making Metro More Affordable and Accessible report.
The next steps
In the 2019-2020 biennial budget, King County Council asked that Metro establish an income-based fare program for those who cannot afford the current reduced fare options. To create an implementation plan that addresses these considerations, Metro worked with a stakeholder advisory group to understand the mobility needs of priority populations, including people of color, low-income residents, limited or non-English speaking communities, and immigrants and refugees. We also worked with community-based organizations to reach out to potential customers who have very low or zero income.
Advisory group
The 20 members of our advisory group represented various organizations with a stake in public transit. They also reflect the diversity of Metro riders, including young people, older adults, people with disabilities, people with no or low incomes, commuters, and college and university students.
The group met four times in 2017 to help us think through the effects of various fare options and advise us on ways to make transit and ORCA more accessible. The group served in an advisory capacity only; it did not make any formal recommendations or decisions.
| Organization | Attendee |
| Alliance of People with disAbilities | Kimberly Meck |
| Arc of King County | Dorian Taylor |
| Byrd Barr Place | Martha Meyer |
| Capitol Hill Housing | Joel Sisolak |
| Casa Latina | Araceli Hernandez |
| Catholic Community Services | Janet Hammer |
| CIRCC (Coalition of Immigrants, Refugees and Community of Color) | Sameth Mell |
| Global2Local | Niesha Brooks |
| Highline College | Chalisa Thompson |
| Hopelink | Staci Haber |
| King County Housing Authority | Jenn Ramirez Robson |
| Low Income Housing Institute | Sasha Koeberling |
| Puget Sound Sage | Jessica Ramirez |
| Refugee Women's Alliance | Ayan Mohamed |
Renton Housing Authority |
Maria Chavez Millie Phung |
Seattle Colleges |
Mady Linh Lai Darron Lewis |
| Seattle-King County Coalition on Homelessness | Alison Eisinger |
| SEIU 1199NW | Sybill Hyppolite |
SEIU 775 |
Brittany Williams Juan Torres |
| Sound Generations | Mark Smutny |
| Transit Riders Union | Katie Wilson |
| Transportation Choices Coalition | Regina Dove |
| UNITE HERE Local 8 | Eunice How |
| UFCW Local 21 | Karsten Wise |
| University of Washington - UW Doorway Project (homeless youth) | Anna Humphreys |
Urban League |
Felisa Bryant |
YouthCare |
Christopher Hanson |
World Relief |
Caitlin Wasley |
Timeline
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Metro submits report to County Council on transit affordability for people with the lowest incomes, proposing an income-based approach.
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County Council proviso asks Metro to implement an income-based fares program in 2020.
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Metro’s stakeholder advisory group meets to provide input on the program design.
Metro partners with community-based organizations to hear directly from potential customers.
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Metro gives an update about the new program development to King County Council.
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King County Council considers report and proposed program.
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Pending council action, Metro and partners implement adopted program.
Have a Say
Community involvement
In early 2019, we created a stakeholder advisory group to provide input and expertise on the program design. Stakeholders are from organizations that represent a variety of groups that may fall into the very low income or zero income category including affordable housing providers, human service providers, community-based organizations serving immigrants, refugees and people of color, people with disabilities and more.
We also worked with community-based organizations to reach out to potential customers who have very low or zero income. Read our public engagement report for more information about what we heard.
Contact us
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about the program, please contact:
Cindy Chen
Community Relations Planner
Send Cindy an email
or call 206-263-8952
