Transit fares will increase 25 cents for riders and businesses offering Business Choice accounts to their employees. Customers who have a Passport or U-Pass through their business or school will notice the change as contracts are renewed after March 1.
Fares for Access paratransit service will increase 50 cents to $1.75 per trip; this adjustment will more closely align Access fares with regular off-peak fares. The increase reflects the much higher expense of operating Access service compared to regular bus service.
Also making its debut March 1 is Metro’s newly created ORCA LIFT reduced-fare program. The reduced ORCA LIFT fare will be $1.50 per trip, regardless of time of day or number of zones traveled. It will be available to riders earning at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, about $23,340 annually for an individual. An ORCA LIFT card is required for the reduced fare.
Visit ORCALIFT.com to learn more about the program and to locate your nearest enrollment office. A trained customer service representative will help you determine if you are eligible.
The Seattle Streetcar, King County Water Taxi, Sound Transit Link light rail and Kitsap Transit will offer similar reduced fares for riders who have an ORCA LIFT card.
The Regional Reduced Fare Permit and human-service ticket programs will continue to assist people who rely on Metro as a safety net.