Seattle introduces transit fares based on income

SEATTLE — Seattle launched a new public transit fare program on Sunday based not on distance traveled but on household income, CBS News reported.

In addition to On March 1, King County Metro and Sound Transit raised fares on ORCA transit cards by 25 cents, an expanded program of reduced fares. The reduced ORCA LIFT fare will be $1.50 per trip regardless of time of day or number of zones traveled. It will be available to riders earning at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, about $23,340 annually for an individual or $47,700 for a family of four.

An ORCA LIFT card is required for the reduced fare. Metro, Public Health–Seattle/King County, along with eight other human service providers from all across the county, have teamed up and are standing by to work with riders to determine eligibility and provide them with ORCA LIFT cards.

The new ORCA LIFT program offers half-price fares on buses, light rail, water taxis and streetcars, according to the report.

It's only the second major city system, after San Francisco, to offer a reduced-fare based on household income, CBS News reported. For the full story, click here.