Low-Income Fare Options Advisory Committee
Advisory committee recommends adoption of a Metro Transit bus fare for adults with low incomes
King County formed the Low-Income Fare Options Advisory Committee to assist in the review and development of new King County public transportation fare options for people with low incomes.
The King County Council directed the County Executive to establish the committee on Oct. 9, 2012 when it passed Motion 13746, which was later replaced by Motion 13806. The motion defines the committee’s responsibilities and membership.
The advisory committee completed its work and submitted a report to King County Council in June 2013.
News
Sept. 22—Sound Transit is seeking input on potential new low-income fare options. Learn more & provide feedback
May 30—The King County Council has formed a Low Income Fare Implementation Task Force to review Metro’s plan for implementing a fare for qualified individuals who have low incomes.
Feb. 24—The King County Council has approved a new reduced Metro fare for qualified individuals who have low incomes. Read about the Council’s action
Report
The Low-Income Fare Options Advisory Committee has completed its work and issued a report and recommendations.
Download the report [574KB PDF]
Download the appendices to the report [3MB PDF]
The advisory committee had seven primary responsibilities:
- Establish a common understanding of mobility barriers for low-income populations, and how transit fare price points affect access and use of transit by low-income persons.
- Review the different types of transit fare options available to meet the mobility needs of low-income persons.
- Review costs of potential King County low-income fare programs.
- Recommend definitions of low-income to be used for the implementation of transit fare programs.
- Make prioritized recommendations related to the establishment of King County low-income fare programs.
- Identify different options for funding low-income fare programs and potential partners that may be willing to support such programs.
- Identify opportunities and recommendations for regional low-income fare programs and potential partners that may be willing to support such programs.
Members of the advisory committee were:
Rob Beem – Board Member | North Urban Human Service Alliance |
Al Smith – Board Member | Eastside Human Services Forum |
Ginger Kwan – Executive Director, Open Doors for Multicultural Families | South King Council of Human Services |
Alison Eisinger – Director, Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness | Seattle Human Services Coalition |
Katie Wilson – Transit Riders Union | Low income consumer |
Katheryn Flake – SE Seattle | Low income consumer |
On Ho – Women's Advisory Board | Low income consumer |
Jerry DeGrieck – Seattle Mayor’s Office | Local jurisdiction representative |
Marilynne Beard – Kirkland Deputy City Manager | Local jurisdiction representative |
John Hodgson – Kent City Manager | Local jurisdiction representative |
Londi Lindell -North Bend City Administrator | Local jurisdiction representative |
Kate Joncas – President, Downtown Seattle Association | Business representative |
Patrick Bannon – Director, BDA | Business representative |
John Resha | Ex officio member – County Council designee |
Kelli Carroll | Ex officio member – County Council designee |
Chris Arkills | Ex officio member – County Executive designee |
Elissa Benson | Ex officio member – County Executive designee |
Deborah Doyle | Ex officio member – Washington State Department of Social and Health Services |
Katy Miller | Ex officio member – King County Human Services |
Dennis Worsham | Ex officio member – King County Public Health |
Kevin Desmond | Ex officio member – King County Metro Transit |