Latest news with #RebeccaFrankhouser
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
King County Metro resumes fare enforcement
King County Metro has fully resumed fare enforcement after a four-year hiatus. For the last two months, Fare Enforcement Officers have been in an 'education phase' – reminding people that they'll need to pay moving forward. In 2020, payment was paused to reassess and reimagine safety, security, and fare enforcement Starting Saturday, officers began issuing printed warnings and citations to riders who can't provide proof of payment on buses and streetcars. Metro says that the education phase was promising. In April and May, 76% of riders that officers spoke to provided proof of payment. 'We see riders are getting back into the habit of tapping their cards and paying at the farebox, which funds essential bus service in our communities,' Metro's Chief Safety Officer Rebecca Frankhouser said. 'As we shift toward issuing warnings and potential citations, we are again reminding riders that there are free and reduced transit fares to ensure everyone can take transit.' Metro's adult fare is currently $2.75. Officers will accept proof of payment in the form of: A recently tapped ORCA fare card An activated Transit GO Ticket on their phone A tapped ORCA card in Google Wallet A transfer slip issued to someone who paid cash or used a human service bus ticket at the farebox Riders who do not have valid proof of payment will first receive a printed warning. Riders can receive two printed warnings without consequence. A third and subsequent violation may result in a fine or an alternative resolution: Pay a fine of $20 within 30 days, or $40 within 90 days Load $20 onto an ORCA card or—if eligible—$10 onto a reduced fare program card Enroll in a reduced fare program if eligible Perform two hours of community service Appeal to the Fare Adjudication Program Manager or request a customized resolution Youth who do not have proof of payment will not face a fine or alternative resolution, and will instead receive information on how to enroll in the Free Youth Transit Pass.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
King County Metro fully resumes fare enforcement for first time since 2020
The Brief For the first time since 2020, King County Metro will fully resume fare enforcement. Riders who fail to show proof of payment may be issued a warning or a fine. Alternative resolutions are available for riders who cannot afford to pay the fare or the fine. KING COUNTY, Wash. - King County Metro will fully resume fare enforcement this Saturday for the first time since 2020. Printed warnings and citations will be issued to riders who fail to provide proof of payment on streetcars and buses by Metro Fare Enforcement Officers starting May 31. What we know King County Metro first paused fare enforcement in 2020 to reassess safety, security and fare enforcement to make the transit system more equitable to the over 300,000 riders-a-day it serves. Its Safety, Security and Fare Enforcement (SaFE) Reform Initiative is collaborating with riders, community members and Metro employees to improve the existing system. Metro has focused on educating and reminding riders of the proper fare payment requirements for the last two months, but the reminders will soon turn into warnings and citations. During the Metro education phase, Fare Enforcement Officers found that 76% of riders they encountered had proof of payment. Officers would provide information to the remaining riders on fare payment expectations and reduced fare programs. "We see riders are getting back into the habit of tapping their cards and paying at the farebox, which funds essential bus service in our communities," Metro's Chief Safety Officer Rebecca Frankhouser said in a statement. "As we shift toward issuing warnings and potential citations, we are again reminding riders that there are free and reduced transit fares to ensure everyone can take transit." Riders who fail to show valid proof of payment will first be issued a printed warning. A rider may receive two warnings before receiving any consequences, yet after the third and following violations, the rider may be issued a fine or an alternative resolution. Metro currently has 30 Fare Enforcement Officers around the King County area that will monitor fare payments. Riders can show their proof of payment through the following forms: A recently tapped ORCA fare card, An activated Transit GO Ticket on their phone, A tapped ORCA card in Google Wallet, A transfer slip issued to someone who used a human service bus ticket at the firebox or who paid cash. Youths who do not have proof of payment (like a Free Youth Transit Pass or School I.D.) will not face a fine, but will receive information on how to register for a Free Youth Transit Pass. Alternative resolutions are described as ways to ensure fairness, like if a rider cannot afford to pay the fare, they likely also cannot afford to pay the fine. Examples of alternative resolutions include: Pay a fine of $20 within 30 days or $40 within 90 days. Load $20 onto an ORCA card or $10 onto a reduced fare program card (if eligible). Enroll in a reduced fare program (if eligible). Two hours of community service. Appeal to the Fare Adjudication Program Manager or request a customized resolution. The current adult fare is $2.75, but Metro offers reduced and free fares to eligible riders, including: Low-income riders → eligible for ORCA LIFT card, $1 Metro bus service. Seniors and people with disabilities → Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) card, $1 Metro bus service. Youth aged 18 and younger → ORCA Youth card, ride for free. Riders in certain government programs → Subsidized Annual Pass, ride for free Riders are encouraged to take a five-question quiz on Metro's website to determine the right fare program for them. The Source Information in this article is from the King County Metro service. Sweltering weather in store for Seattle this week Motorcyclist killed, driver arrested after Puyallup crash Mom of slain Idaho victim Xana Kernodle asks for help attending Bryan Kohberger trial Seattle Memorial Day weekend 2025: Your guide to events, traffic, more Tears, heartbreak at Chase Jones sentencing—teen in fatal Renton, WA crash To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pay up! King County Metro is resuming fare enforcement
King County Metro says it will fully resume fare enforcement on May 31 after a four-year hiatus. For the last two months, Fare Enforcement Officers have been in an 'education phase' – reminding people that they'll need to pay moving forward. In 2020, payment was paused to reassess and reimagine safety, security, and fare enforcement Starting Saturday, officers will begin issuing printed warnings and citations to riders who can't provide proof of payment on buses and streetcars. Metro says that the education phase was promising. In April and May, 76% of riders that officers spoke to provided proof of payment. 'We see riders are getting back into the habit of tapping their cards and paying at the farebox, which funds essential bus service in our communities,' Metro's Chief Safety Officer Rebecca Frankhouser said. 'As we shift toward issuing warnings and potential citations, we are again reminding riders that there are free and reduced transit fares to ensure everyone can take transit.' Metro's adult fare is currently $2.75. Officers will accept proof of payment in the form of: A recently tapped ORCA fare card An activated Transit GO Ticket on their phone A tapped ORCA card in Google Wallet A transfer slip issued to someone who paid cash or used a human service bus ticket at the farebox Riders who do not have valid proof of payment will first receive a printed warning. Riders can receive two printed warnings without consequence. A third and subsequent violation may result in a fine or an alternative resolution: Pay a fine of $20 within 30 days, or $40 within 90 days Load $20 onto an ORCA card or—if eligible—$10 onto a reduced fare program card Enroll in a reduced fare program if eligible Perform two hours of community service Appeal to the Fare Adjudication Program Manager or request a customized resolution Youth who do not have proof of payment will not face a fine or alternative resolution, and will instead receive information on how to enroll in the Free Youth Transit Pass.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
King County Metro fare enforcement goes into effect today
Starting today, King County Metro will begin enforcing fare payments for all Metro buses and streetcars. Metro is relaunching fare enforcement after pausing it back in 2020. They will have at least 30 uniformed officers who will be checking to see if riders have paid their ticket or if their ORCA card is good to go. If it's a first-time offense, officers will help guide you on how to pay the right fare, either on the transit app or your ORCA card. A second violation will get you a written warning. However, for three or more violations, riders must choose from the following consequences: • Pay a fine of $40 within 90 days, reduced to $20 within 30 days. • Load $20 onto an ORCA card or—if eligible—$10 onto a reduced fare program card. • Enroll in a reduced fare program if eligible. • Perform two hours of community service. • Appeal to the Fare Adjudication Program Manager or request a customized resolution. • Youth who do not have proof of payment will not face a fine or alternative resolution, and will instead receive information on how to enroll in the Free Youth Transit Pass. King County Metro added that 'because the freedom to move is a human right,' they will offer reduced and free fares to those who might need assistance to ensure everyone can take transit: • Riders with lower incomes can get an ORCA LIFT card, which allows them to take Metro bus service for $1. • Riders with disabilities and seniors are similarly able to ride a Metro bus for $1 with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) card. • All youth aged 18 and younger can ride for free and are encouraged to get an ORCA Youth card. • Additionally, riders with the lowest incomes who are enrolled in certain government programs can also ride for free with the Subsidized Annual Pass. • Please visit Metro's Reduced Fare web page to learn more about these programs and take a quick, five-question quiz to determine which fare may be right for you. According to King County Metro, Metro's Safety, Security and Fare Enforcement (SaFE) Reform Initiative collaborated with thousands of riders, community members, and Metro employees to make the transit system more equitable, secure, and welcoming. 'We met with our community groups and we designed our fare enforcement uniforms so that while they still identify that they are fare enforcement officers, it's a kinder, gentler uniform,' shared Metro's Chief Safety Officer, Rebecca Frankhouser. To learn more, visit the King County Metro website.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Metro fare enforcement goes into effect at the end of the month
A reminder if you ride the bus — King County Metro will start enforcing fares a week from today! That means after March 31, fare enforcers will be on buses, making sure you've paid for a ticket to ride. When asked what might be different moving forward, King County Metro's Chief Safety Officer Rebecca Frankhouser, said, 'Not everyone has had the same experience with uniformed presence, so we met with our community groups and redesigned our fare enforcement uniforms so that while they still identify that they're fare enforcement officers, it's a kinder, gentler uniform.' Metro's adult fare is currently $2.75. Beginning March 31, Fare Enforcement Officers will accept proof of payment in the form of: • a recently tapped ORCA fare card • an activated Transit GO Ticket on their phone • a tapped ORCA card in Google Wallet • a transfer slip issued to someone who paid cash at the farebox Metro paused fare enforcement in 2020, which they say was to 'reassess and reimagine safety, security, and fare enforcement to make the transit system more equitable and welcoming.' If riders board the bus without paying the fare, Metro tells us their first step will be to educate them about the fares. Riders will face fines after two written warnings.
