KING COUNTY -- King County Metro Transit fares are going up 25 cents for adult riders and businesses that offer "Business Choice" accounts to their employees starting March 1.
Metro says the fare increases will "place Metro on more stable financial footing and will help keep service on the road."
Access paratransit service fares are increasing 50 cents to $1.75 per trip. According to Metro, "the increase reflects the much higher expense of operating Access service compared to regular bus service."
The transit service is also launching a new reduced fare to help those with limited incomes. The reduced ORCA LIFT fare will be $1.50 per trip regardless of time of day or number of zones traveled.
This reduced fare program will be available to riders earning at or below 200-percent of the federal poverty level. Metro estimates that income level at about $23,340 for an individual.