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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/16/2022 06.N. Ordinance amending Yakima Transit's rates and fares for fixed route, Paratransit, and Commuter Services to provide fare-free service to individuals aged 18 years and younger 1 s F` ,1„11„4\ 4.. igikiiiiii),.... \L):.... ) BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 6.N. For Meeting of:August 16, 2022 ITEM TITLE: Ordinance amending Yakima Transit's rates and fares for fixed route, Paratransit, and Commuter Services to provide fare-free service to individuals aged 18 years and younger SUBMITTED BY: Scott Schafer, Public Works Director Alvie Maxey, Transit Manager, 576-6415 Gregory Story,Assistant Transit Manager, 576-6422 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: In March 2022, the Washington State Legislature passed the Move Ahead Washington transportation funding package. This package provides grant funding to fully replace lost youth fare revenue for transit agencies that adopt fare-free policies for individuals 18 years of age and younger. This ordinance amends Yakima Transit's fares to allow individuals 18 and under to utilize all Yakima Transit modes of service free of charge and to take advantage of this provision of the Move Ahead Washington package. Currently, youth fares represent 27% of Yakima Transit's farebox revenues, and roughly 3% of overall revenues. The Move Ahead Washington grant funding will be equal to or greater than lost farebox revenues. Beginning October 1, 2022, Yakima Transit will offer fare-free service to those ages 18 and under on all forms of Yakima Transit services. These services include, Yakima Transit fixed route bus service, the Yakima-Ellensburg Commuter and the Dial-A-Ride paratransit service (for those qualified to use Dial-A-Ride). Children under 6 will continue to ride Yakima Transit services for free with a fare-paying adult and do not need proof of eligibility. To utilize the fare-free service, those ages 18 and under will need to carry proof of eligibility in the form of a current school photo ID card, a valid government-issued ID card, a birth certificate or a free Yakima Transit Youth Card, which is preferred. Yakima Transit Youth Cards can be obtained for no charge at the Yakima Transit Center located at S. 4th Street and Walnut or at Public Works located at 2301 Fruitvale Blvd during regular business hours. Proof of eligibility in the form of a birth certificate or a valid government-issued I.D. card must be provided in order to qualify to receive a Yakima Transit Youth Card. A revised and a clean copy of the proposed amendment to the ordinance has been attached for City Council review. 2 ITEM BUDGETED: NA STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Trust and Accountability APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION: Pass Ordinance ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type ❑ Eighteen and Under Fare Free Ord 8/2/2022 Ordinance ❑ 'Jean Copy-Eighteen and Under Fare Free Ordinance 8/3/2022 Ordinance 3 ORDINANCE NO. 2022- AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code (YMC) § 7.90.020 Transit Fees to provide fare-free service to individuals aged eighteen and under. WHEREAS,the Washington State Legislature has approved the Move Ahead Washington transportation funding package; and, WHEREAS, the Move Ahead Washington package provides grant funding to fully replace lost fare revenue from youth ticket sales for transit agencies that provide fare free-service to individuals aged eighteen and under; now therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA: Section 1. Chapter 7.90.020 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 7.90.020 Transit fees. The transit division fare rates, effective March 8, 2013, are as follows: A. Adult Fare. (1) Except as provided in subsections (A)(2), B and C of this section, a fare of one dollar, referred to as an "adult fare," shall be collected from each transit passenger for each trip taken on a transit bus, "trip" being defined for purposes of this chapter as the duration of a single transport from the point of a passenger entering the bus to the point of the passenger exiting the bus. (2) An adult holding a current and valid monthly adult pass issued by the city of Yakima transit division for a fee of twenty-five dollars per month shall be entitled to ride any Yakima city transit bus an unlimited number of times, and at any time, by exhibiting such pass to the bus driver. B. Youth Fare. The fare for passengers eighteen and under shall be set as follows: (1) The youth fare shall be set at zero dollars and no fare is required. Proof of age may be required. (2) No fare shall be required from prequalified passengers or passenger guests for Dial-A- Ride. {1) Except as provided in subsection (B)(2) of this section, a fare of seventy-five cents, referred to as a "youth fare," shall bc collcctcd from Bach passenger who is between tho ages of six and eighteen years of age for clash trip taken on a transit bus. No fare shall bo required for a passenger five years of age or younger when attended by another pafenaer who pays their appropriate faro. A youth fare shall bc collcctcd from clash unattended passenger under six years of age. (2) A pacccngcr holding a current and valid youth bus pa: k,cucd by the city of Yakima transit division for a fee of eighteen dollars per month shall be entitled to ride any Yakima 4 city transit bus an unlimited number of times, and at any time, by exhibiting such pa-4; to the bus driver. C. Reduced Fare. (1) "Reduced Fare" Defined. "Reduced fare"shall mean a fare available to a person who has in his/her possession a reduced fare ID card and meets the following requirements: (a) Is a person sixty-two years of age or older; or (b) Is a person with disabilities and a Medicare cardholder. (2) "Reduced Fare" Rates. (a) A fare of fifty cents shall be collected from each "reduced fare" bus passenger. (b) A passenger holding a current and valid "reduced fare bus pass" issued by the city of Yakima transit division for the fee of nine dollars per month shall be entitled to ride any Yakima city transit bus an unlimited number of times by exhibiting such pass to the bus driver. D. Dial-A-Ride Fare. A fare of two dollars, referred to as the "dial-a-ride fare," shall be collected from each passenger who has been prequalified by the city as being eligible under the Americans with Disabilities Act for dial-a-ride transport. The dial-a-ride fare shall be required for each one-way trip made on the demand-responsive service provided by the city of Yakima and referred to as dial-a-ride, for qualified individuals with disabilities and subject to the following conditions: (a) The dial-a-ride fare will not be collected from an attendant accompanying a dial a- ride passenger who has been authorized and preapproved by the city as requiring a personal care attendant. (b) The dial-a-ride fare will be collected from each person six years of age or older who accompanies the disabled passenger, except as provided in subsection (B) or (D)(a) of this section, and in accord with the established dial-a-ride operating rules. (Ord. 2013-001 § 1, 2013: Ord. 2008-48 § 2, 2008). Section 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect on October 1, 2022 after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 16th day of August, 2022. Janice Deccio, Mayor ATTEST: Sonya Claar Tee, City Clerk 5 Publication Date: Effective Date: 6 ORDINANCE NO. 2022- AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code (YMC) § 7.90.020 Transit Fees to provide fare-free service to individuals aged eighteen and under. WHEREAS,the Washington State Legislature has approved the Move Ahead Washington transportation funding package; and, WHEREAS, the Move Ahead Washington package provides grant funding to fully replace lost fare revenue from youth ticket sales for transit agencies that provide fare free-service to individuals aged eighteen and under; now therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA: Section 1. Chapter 7.90.020 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 7.90.020 Transit fees. The transit division fare rates are as follows: A. Adult Fare. (1) Except as provided in subsections (A)(2), B and C of this section, a fare of one dollar, referred to as an "adult fare," shall be collected from each transit passenger for each trip taken on a transit bus, "trip" being defined for purposes of this chapter as the duration of a single transport from the point of a passenger entering the bus to the point of the passenger exiting the bus. (2) An adult holding a current and valid monthly adult pass issued by the city of Yakima transit division for a fee of twenty-five dollars per month shall be entitled to ride any Yakima city transit bus an unlimited number of times, and at any time, by exhibiting such pass to the bus driver. B. Youth Fare. The fare for passengers eighteen and under shall be set as follows: (1) The youth fare shall be set at zero dollars and no fare is required. Proof of age may be required. (2) No fare shall be required from prequalified passengers or passenger guests for Dial-A- Ride. C. Reduced Fare. (1) "Reduced Fare" Defined. "Reduced fare" shall mean a fare available to a person who has in his/her possession a reduced fare ID card and meets the following requirements: (a) Is a person sixty-two years of age or older; or (b) Is a person with disabilities and a Medicare cardholder. 7 (2) "Reduced Fare" Rates. (a) A fare of fifty cents shall be collected from each "reduced fare" bus passenger. (b) A passenger holding a current and valid "reduced fare bus pass" issued by the city of Yakima transit division for the fee of nine dollars per month shall be entitled to ride any Yakima city transit bus an unlimited number of times by exhibiting such pass to the bus driver. D. Dial-A-Ride Fare. A fare of two dollars, referred to as the "dial-a-ride fare," shall be collected from each passenger who has been prequalified by the city as being eligible under the Americans with Disabilities Act for dial-a-ride transport. The dial-a-ride fare shall be required for each one-way trip made on the demand-responsive service provided by the city of Yakima and referred to as dial-a-ride, for qualified individuals with disabilities and subject to the following conditions: (a) The dial-a-ride fare will not be collected from an attendant accompanying a dial a- ride passenger who has been authorized and preapproved by the city as requiring a personal care attendant. (b) The dial-a-ride fare will be collected from each person six years of age or older who accompanies the disabled passenger, except as provided in subsection (B) or (D)(a) of this section, and in accord with the established dial-a-ride operating rules. (Ord. 2013-001 § 1, 2013: Ord. 2008-48 § 2, 2008). Section 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect on October 1, 2022 after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 16'h day of August, 2022. Janice Deccio, Mayor ATTEST: Sonya Clear Tee, City Clerk Publication Date: Effective Date: