Hague applauds providing school districts financial flexibility on student bus passes

June 27, 2011

Summary

Another step encouraging students to become “lifetime” transit users

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council today recognized that Eastside school districts face budget challenges and are working with them to avoid another financial hit in the legislation adopted by the Council on youth fares.

The Council unanimously adopted an amendment proposed by Council Vice Chair Jane Hague that will provide districts with flexibility on student transportation costs. The Hague amendment focuses on students bus passes for Metro and Sound Transit service.

“This legislation meets the constrained budgets for education and its unique needs for transit,” said Hague, Vice Chair of the council. “By working with the districts to keep these passes available, we are encouraging the next generation of transit users.”

The ordinance adopted by the Council raises youth fares from $.75 to $1.25 starting September 1. The rate that school districts pay for the bus passes they give to their students will also increase in the fall, but the amendment proposed by Councilmember Hague and adopted by the Council will allow districts to control cost by consolidating administrative costs and providing districts with flexibility on the type of regional ORCA cards they provide their students.

The adopted amendment allows school districts to limit trips within the county on Metro Transit and Sound Transit routes to school-related activities. Other language added at Hague’s request provided school districts with the option to pay based on actual trips used as opposed to a flat pass fee which could cost the districts more money.