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A MOTION relating to public transportation; approving a report relating to ORCA card fee/load options, as directed by the 2017-2018 Biennial Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 18409, Section 115, Proviso P2.
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WHEREAS, in November 2016, Ordinance 18409 adopted the 2017-2018 Biennial Budget Ordinance, subject to the provisions set forth in the ordinance, and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 18409 approved an appropriation for capital project 1124456, ORCA replacement, and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 18409, Section 115, Proviso P2, required the executive to transmit by February 28, 2017, a report on ORCA card fee/load options and a motion that approves the report before expending $1,000,000 of the funds appropriated for the 2017/18 transit operating budget, and
WHEREAS, the executive transmitted the report by February 28, 2017 as required, and
WHEREAS, after the executive submitted the report in February, Metro continued to review the card fee issues addressed in the original report and has now transmitted an updated report to reflect progress made since that time, and
WHEREAS, consistent with the requirements of Proviso P2, the updated report includes, but is not limited to:
A. A listing of King County Code provisions, ordinances, interlocal agreements, joint board policies and other policy documents that are implicated if there were a change to the policy of charging the $5 ORCA card fee and the $3 regional reduced fare permit fee;
B. An analysis of the objectives from charging for the card and permit, how results are measured and whether the objectives are being met;
C. An analysis of the financial impacts to the county of eliminating the $5 and $3 fees and adding equivalent value at the point of purchase, both for all purchases and for purchases solely by individuals;
D. An explanation of county operational procedures that would have to be changed to eliminate the $5 and $3 fees or to add the equivalent value at the point of purchase;
E. Identification of opportunities to amend the regional fare cooperation agreement to provide for all participating agencies to waive the fees or to provide the equivalent value at the point of purchase;
F. An estimate of the financial benefit on transit riders resulting from the elimination of the fees or adding the equivalent value at the point of purchase; and
G. An evaluation of the equity and social justice impacts of eliminating the fees or adding the equivalent value at the point of purchase, and
WHEREAS, Metro has updated the required information and the executive has transmitted a revised ORCA Card Fee/Load Options report, as set forth as Attachment A to this motion, to the council;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The council hereby approves the ORCA Card Fee/Load report, Attachment A to this motion, as required by Ordinance 18409, Section 115, Proviso P2. Further, in response to the information provided in the proviso report and because the transit division does not support a zero fee ORCA card or loading new ORCA cards with fare value equal to the cost of the card, the council, executive, and transit division director support retaining the $5 ORCA card fee for adult and youth passengers and using additional revenue generated by a $2.75 flat fare for:
A. Waiving the regional reduced fare permit fee;
B. Increasing activities to promote ORCA and attract new riders, such as waiving card fees for ORCA LIFT customers and providing cards with value loaded for neighborhood and route promotion efforts;
C. Expanding the human services ticket program and addressing accessibility and affordability barriers for low-income riders;
D. Increasing ORCA LIFT outreach and enrollment efforts;
E. Increasing transit service hours; and
F. Supporting the expanded transit system envisioned in the METRO CONNECTS - King County Metro long-range plan.