File #: 2019-0162    Version:
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 5/1/2019 In control: Mobility and Environment Committee
On agenda: Final action: 8/28/2019
Enactment date: 8/28/2019 Enactment #: 18974
Title: AN ORDINANCE waiving enforcement of transit fare collection in certain emergencies; and amending Ordinance 11033, Section 5, as amended, and K.C.C. 28.94.020 and Ordinance 11950, Section 14, as amended, and K.C.C. 28.96.010.
Sponsors: Jeanne Kohl-Welles
Indexes: Emergency Services, Fees, transit
Code sections: 28.94.020 - ., 4A.700.630 - .
Attachments: 1. Ordinance 18974, 2. 2019-0162_SR_EmergencySnowNetworkFareWaiver, 3. 2019-0162_ATT2_AMDT1, 4. 2019-0162_ATT3_ESN Fare Impacts, 5. 2019-0162_ATT4_Emergency_Snow_Network, 6. 2019-0162_SR_dated_08202019_EmergencySnowNetworkFareWaiver8-20, 7. 2019-0162_ATT2_AMD-S1-8-1, 8. 2019-0162_ATT3_AMD-T1, 9. 2019-0162_RevisedSR_EmergencySnowNetworkFareWaiver8-20
Staff: Zoppi, Leah
Drafter
Clerk 08/21/2019
Title
AN ORDINANCE waiving enforcement of transit fare collection in certain emergencies; and amending Ordinance 11033, Section 5, as amended, and K.C.C. 28.94.020 and Ordinance 11950, Section 14, as amended, and K.C.C. 28.96.010.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. The Metro transit department's emergency snow network ("ESN") was developed after a winter storm in December 2008 left buses stranded on unplowed roads and many riders without reliable service. The ESN was developed in coordination and collaboration with jurisdictions to take advantage of designated snow plow plans.
2. In February 2019, King County experienced record high snowfall over an extended period.
3. During that period of heavy snowfall, the Metro transit department enacted its ESN for the first time since its development, reducing service to include only core bus routes and shuttles primarily serving key arterials and transit centers.
3. Authorities opened additional extreme weather shelters for those experiencing homelessness or power outages.
4. The record snowfall and freezing temperatures during that time contributed to at least three deaths from exposure, as well as increased rates of traffic accidents.
5. K.C.C. 28.96.010 applies to penalties for those who do not pay fares to ride Metro transit and can be amended to allow for the waiver of those penalties during a designated emergency.
6. Waiving the penalties for not paying transit fares during serious snowstorms could increase the accessibility of transit service for those experiencing homelessness and other difficulties, and could increase safety by encouraging people to use transit as transportation to reach shelter and avoid driving.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Ordinance 11033, Section 5, as amended, and K.C.C. 28.94.020 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
The director shall implement the system of public transit routes and services described in this section....

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