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April 30, 2001
Council Adopts Transit Fare Increase
Revised Ordinance Balances Fare Rates / Service Improvements
The Metropolitan King County Council unanimously adopted a revised fare increase ordinance during the full council meeting on Monday. The measure is designed to increase both the quantity and quality of transit service.
In addition to raising peak fares 25 cents, the revised ordinance raises off peak fares by 25 cents. Senior/disabled fixed route fares are increased by 25 cents to 50 cents during peak hours only. The Council maintained an effort to increase ridership by reducing youth fares from 75 cents to 50 cents. The council will continue to offer discounted tickets to non-profits and will expand the program by offering up to a million dollars worth of tickets at 20-percent of regular fare prices.
“Lowering fares for youth sends a very positive message to our young people and now is the time to move on with the task of showing riders that we are giving them a better value for their money through more service and cleaner, drier bus stops,” said Transportation Committee Chair
Maggi Fimia.
Councilmember Rob
McKenna, Budget Committee chair and former Transportation chair, had this to say about the compromise fare increase. "With this fare increase, the council has ensured that long-awaited bus service investments will take place on the Eastside and elsewhere this year, as promised. The council's top transportation priority will continue to be putting as much new service on the street as possible."
Regional Transit Committee Chair
Les Thomas praised the action that will restore service improvements, calling the fare increase “a difficult, but well thought out decision that will apply dollars where to they’re needed most – bus routes.”
In addition to a fare increase, the council-adopted proposal will:
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Create a “Transit Good Neighbor” program providing more facilities, like benches, shelters, and cleaner stops.
Individual Fare Changes (old fare new fare)
| |
Off-Peak |
One-zone
Peak |
Two-zone
Peak |
| Regular Fare |
$1.00
$1.25 |
$1.25
$1.50 |
$1.75
$2.00 |
| Youth Fare |
$.75
$.50 |
| Family Fare
(Sundays/most holidays) |
$1.00 |
| Seniors and persons with disabilities fixed route fare |
$.25 |
$.25
$.50 |
$.25
$.50 |
| ACCESS Paratransit fare |
$.50
$.75 |
| All Day pass |
$5.00 |
– End –
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