Enroll in King County Metro’s Low-Income Fare Program

This message is about enrollment in King County Metro’s Low-Income Fare Program.

Enrollment started Sunday, January 25, for the new ORCA LIFT reduced fare program. The ORCA LIFT fare can be used on Metro Transit buses, Sound Transit Link light rail, the Seattle Streetcar, King County Water Taxi and Kitsap Transit buses. Enrollment locations are available here.

This program provides a reduced transit fare for qualified individuals whose household income is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (as established by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department). The reduced fare must be paid with a valid ORCA LIFT card, which is registered and issued to each individual user.

Beginning March 1^st, 2015, the reduced fare for King County Metro buses will be $1.50 per trip any time of day, for one- or two-zone travel; Sound Transit Link light rail is $1.50; Seattle Streetcar is $1.50, Kitsap Transit is $1.00; and the King County Water Taxi is $3.00 between Downtown Seattle and West Seattle, and $3.75 between Downtown Seattle and Vashon Island. Also beginning March 1^st, fares will increase by 25 cents per trip in all current Metro fare categories — adults, youth, seniors and people with disabilities — for all regularly scheduled transit services.

The ORCA LIFT card will work the same way a regular ORCA card does.

1. Use the E-Purse feature and place any amount between $5 and $300 on the ORCA LIFT card. This is a good choice if the card is used occasionally. When the user taps the card on the ORCA reader, the ORCA LIFT fare will be deducted from the E-purse.
2. A monthly PugetPass can be loaded on the ORCA LIFT card for unlimited rides for the entire month. This is a good choice for regular riders.

The ORCA LIFT card is valid for 24 months. After it expires, the ORCA LIFT card will charge regular adult fares, including any peak and zone charges, for rides. To continue paying the reduced fare, the cardholder will have to requalify for the ORCA LIFT program and get a new card. There will be no fee for the renewal card.

The LIFT card will not replace the Regional Reduced Fare Permit, and those who are eligible for the RRFP should apply for that card because the cost savings is greater. The RRFP serves senior riders (age 65 or older), riders with a disability and Medicare card holders. Once approved, they can ride King County Metro for 75 cents.

More information and answers to frequently asked questions about the card is available here.