The November 2nd Executive Board meeting included a 30-minute discussion on existing fare structure and rate and the rationale for a fare change now as the last Link fare change occurred in 2015. That current fares are based on the distance from where you tap your ORCA card to get on and tap again to get off. If you don’t tap when you get off, you are charged for the fare to the end of the line.
However, the ST2 system extensions have resulted in large distance-based table and more fare rates that would be even more complicated with future extensions. The result was to consider a single ”flat” fare for all trips as shown on a chart comparing fares used by “peer transit” agencies, with some having a peak hour or airport surcharge.
The presentation concluded flat fares benefited from being “simpler to understand and budget for” and required passengers to only tap on. Sound Transit surveys had shown riders were split with 52% preferring distance-based fare and 48% preferring flat rate. The rider preference presumably reflected the distance of their commute.
The subsequent discussion about “Next steps” resulted in a "12/15: Board for potential action on Link fare". The board should consider a fairer approach for both commuters would be to set fares based on distance from where riders got on buses or trains to either CID or Westlake stations.
No fares would be collected at either CID or Westlake. Inbound fares would include the cost of the return commute to deal with the ambiguity to the return destination. Commuters going beyond CID or Westlake to SeaTac, east side, or UW would pay the fares covering those costs on their return.
It shouldn't be that difficult.
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