David Hill

The Transit Riders Union is proud to announce the official release of our latest research report, Measuring the Impact of Transit Benefits on Ridership in King County. Funded in partnership with WSDOT and Front and Centered, this rider-centered survey project brings vital community data to the forefront of the fight for economic and climate justice. Our findings are clear: access to unlimited, employer-provided transit passes massively increases transit reliance, with 65% of pass-holders taking transit for their daily commutes while simultaneously reducing regional carbon emissions and alleviating financial anxiety for working-class families. However, because these life-changing benefits are overwhelmingly tied to higher-income corporate employment, our region’s most transit-reliant essential workers and low-income neighbors are far too often left stranded by regressive fare structures and service gaps.

To bridge this unjust divide and shape a truly equitable regional policy landscape, TRU is moving forward with bold, actionable recommendations based directly on rider data. We are urging regional transit agencies and local leaders to expand the ORCA LIFT program by shifting eligibility requirements away from the federal poverty level and aligning them with local wages, specifically expanding low-income fare access to everyone making under 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Furthermore, we call for direct, aggressive investments in systemwide infrastructure (including dedicated bus lanes, expanded route options, and increased service frequencies) to support our most dedicated riders. This report is a testament to what happens when working people organize to analyze our own material conditions; now, we must use this data as a tool to mobilize, build social power, and win the world-class, affordable public transit network our communities deserve.