Metro and Sound Transit are developing alternatives for coordinating bus service with light rail when the new stations on Capitol Hill and at Husky Stadium open next year.

How will the bus routes you ride be affected?  Will your service be improved or reduced?  The Transit Riders Union wants to know. Please delve into the details to see how the two proposed alternatives will affect you, and let us know what you think, either in the comments or by emailing contact@transitriders.org:

https://metro.kingcounty.gov/programs-projects/link-connections/alternatives.html#explore

And, here is a summary of the proposed changes in list form, helpfully compiled and sent to us by a bus rider and TRU supporter, that may be easier to read. (Disclaimer: this hasn’t been extensively double-checked for accuracy, so if you see a change that is concerning it’s best to also look for the details on Metro’s site):

https://transitriders.org/pdf/LightRailOptions.pdf

You know those vast parking lots at Northgate Mall, Walmart, Home Depot and other big box stores? Not only do they take up space and create an environment hostile to pedestrians, they contribute to stormwater runoff pollution and they stand nearly empty much of the time. And yet, they’re totally exempt from the Commercial Parking Tax that Seattle levies on lots where customers pay to park.

The Transit Riders Union has been working with progressive legislators in Olympia on legislation that would authorize a tax on Non-Residential Parking Facilities, requiring the parking lot owner to pay for these huge expanses of pavement. This progressive tax would close the loophole that exempts “free” parking spaces that actually come with high social costs. It would raise badly-needed revenue for public transit, as well as being good for the environment and improving our urban landscape.

Now is the time to contact your representatives in the House in support of HB 2186!  Name the bill number and tell them you support a tax on non-residential parking facilities.

It’s easy to find your legislators here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

Or, just call the legislative hotline, 1-800-562-6000, leave a message with your name and street address, and it will be forwarded to your legislators.

* Join the Delegation *

On March 1, San Francisco will make riding the bus FREE for low and moderate income seniors and people with disabilities.  On that same date, King County Metro will RAISE fares for all these riders by 33%.  Standard and youth fares will also go up by $0.25, and Access fares will go up by $0.50.

C’mon King County – we can do better!

The Transit Riders Union won our fight for a low income reduced fare.  Now, we’re going to win affordable transit for all. But we need your help.

This spring, a Delegation of hundreds of transit riders will meet with County Councilmembers to reject fare hikes and demand affordable transit for everyone. Join the Delegation. It’s time for transit riders to stand up and take action.

Sign a Delegate Pledge online

Delegate Pledge – Printable PDF

No Fare Hikes! Flyer – Printable PDF

Upcoming Delegation Organizing Meeting:

Sat., Feb. 28: 3:00 – 5:00 @ Casa Latina Training Center, 317 17th Ave S. (enter from 17th)

By Sam Smith

Hello Metro riders! My name is Sam Smith, and I’ve been a Metro driver since early 2013. I hear all sorts of questions from passengers, friends, and fellow TRU members on a range of topics related to my job. This column is dedicated to answering some of those questions. Anything you want to know – Why do the poles come off the wires so often? Where do you pick up the bus? – just ask! Send questions to sam@transitriders.org.

Dear Bus Driver Sam,

I’ve heard rumors that Metro drivers go to the bathroom in cups and bottles. Is that true? – Randy, Central District

Thanks for submitting the very first question to this column, Randy! I’m so glad you asked, because I love talking about bathroom breaks for bus drivers. It’s perhaps the most challenging logistical aspect of the job. I could go on a lengthy rant about the difficult labor conditions that recently resulted in Metro being fined by Labor & Industries, but before I jump into the bad and the ugly, allow me to brag about some of the things I love about bus driver bathrooms.

The Good

When I was first hired, I was outfitted with the usual items you may suspect: a collection of uniforms, employee handbook, county ID badge, etc. What stood out most to me was a fairly standard-looking metal house key. At this point, having been through a month of training, I already knew that this key served no purpose in starting a bus engine or entering the Metro base, so what was it for?

“It’s your T-key. T as in Toilet.”

Read more

Who will be affected by the proposed fare increases?
All bus riders will be affected by the proposed fare increases, but the increased fares will be especially burdensome on seniors, riders with disabilities and youth.

How much does Metro want to raise fares by? 

Category	Current Fare	New Fare	Difference
Adult 1-zone Peak	$2.50	$2.75	+$0.25
Adult 2-zone Peak	$3.00	$3.25	+$0.25
Adult Off-Peak	$2.25	$2.50	+$0.25
ORCA LIFT Reduced Fare (i.e. low-income fare)	NA	$1.50
Youth	$1.25	$1.50	+$0.25
Senior/Disabled	$0.75	$1.00	+$0.25
Access Paratransit	$1.25	$1.75	+$0.50

 

How much money would raising these fares generate? 
These fare increases are expected to generate around $6 million annually.

What impact will raising the youth fare have on students in Seattle? 
Students who live less than 2 miles from school are not eligible for a free ORCA card (subsidized by Seattle Public Schools). They must pay to take the bus, which could cause economic hardship and lead to students missing school on account of not being able to pay to get there and back.

Why does Metro need to raise more revenue? 
The State of Washington has one of the lowest contributions to local transit systems in the nation. That leaves King County Metro scrambling for revenue from local sources (sales taxes) and bus fares.

Metro canceled the proposed cuts to bus lines and service last fall. So why are they now trying to raise fares? 
Metro canceled the bus cuts through a combination of changing Metro’s reserve policy and trusting healthy sales tax projections.

If Metro doesn’t raise these fares, what are alternative forms of raising money? 
King County can put an Employer Head Tax (a very small fee for employers) on the ballot for transit. County­wide, this would raise enough money to reverse the fare hike and even lower the fares! The City of Seattle can also pass an Employer Head Tax for transit and pass a Commercial Parking Tax increase to fund transit.

What impact will raising fares have overall? 
A fare increase of 10% generally results in a ridership reduction of around 3.5%. This means more people driving, causing traffic and contributing to climate change.

Why should I join the Transit Riders Union’s delegation? 
Stand up for affordable transit for all! A strong, affordable transit system will help the region fight climate change, traffic and economic inequality.

* Join the Delegation *

On March 1, San Francisco will make riding the bus FREE for low and moderate income seniors and people with disabilities.  On that same date, King County Metro will RAISE fares for all these riders by 33%.  Standard and youth fares will also go up by $0.25, and Access fares will go up by $0.50.

C’mon King County – we can do better!

The Transit Riders Union won our fight for a low income reduced fare.  Now, we’re going to win affordable transit for all. But we need your help.

This spring, a Delegation of hundreds of transit riders will meet with County Councilmembers to reject fare hikes and demand affordable transit for everyone. Join the Delegation. It’s time for transit riders to stand up and take action.

Sign a Delegate Pledge online

Delegate Pledge – Printable PDF

No Fare Hikes! Flyer – Printable PDF

 Upcoming Delegation Organizing Meetings:

Sat., Feb. 14: 3:30 – 5:30 @ Capitol Hill Public Library Meeting Room, 425 Harvard Ave E.

Sat., Feb. 21: 3:00 – 5:00 @ Casa Latina Training Center, 317 17th Ave S. (enter from 17th)

Sat., Feb. 28: 3:00 – 5:00 @ Casa Latina Training Center, 317 17th Ave S. (enter from 17th)

How much is the reduced fare, and how much does a reduced fare ORCA card cost?

The reduced fare is $1.50 per ride, for any time of day, one-zone or two-zone travel. You can pay per ride, or get a monthly pass for $54. The ORCA LIFT card is free once you qualify and it’s valid for 24 months. If it gets lost or damaged, a replacement costs $5.

How do I qualify?

Your income must be below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (chart below). To show that you are eligible you’ll need to present documentation, such as an award letter for EBT food stamps or SSI, a ProviderOne medical services card, paystubs or tax return. A full list of acceptable documents can be found at www.orcalift.com.

 

When and where can I get an ORCA LIFT card?

You can order one now and it will be mailed to you starting February 1! Visit https://metro.kingcounty.gov/programsprojects/orca-lift/enrollment-locations.html for a full list of enrollment locations, days and times. When you get your card, it won’t have any value on it yet. You can pay for Epurse value or a monthly pass at an ORCA customer service center (King Street Center, 401 S. Jackson), ticket vending machine, or ORCA retailer.

Can I pay the reduced fare with cash?

Nope, you must have an ORCA LIFT card.

Can I use my ORCA LIFT card on Sound Transit?

Link Light Rail is also introducing a $1.50 low-income reduced fare starting March 1, but Sound Transit buses are not. You can still use your card on ST buses and other services that accept ORCA, but you’ll have to pay the full fare – if you are using the monthly pass, you can make up the difference with E-Purse or cash. Kitsap Transit and the King County Water Taxi also have a low income fare.

Do you Qualify for the new ORCA LIFT Reduced Fare of $1.50?

If your annual income is less than listed in the chart below, you do!

More questions?

They may (or may not) be answered here: www.orcalift.com