QUESTIONS FOR YOU: Metro launches survey, hoping to simplify fare-paying

Metro has questions for you, in an online survey launched as they start a planning process in hopes of making “paying fares to ride the bus faster, easier, and simpler for everyone.” Here’s the announcement, which includes a link to the survey:

Metro and the six other regional transit agencies that represent the ORCA (One Regional Card for All) smart-card system have committed to looking at simplifying fares across all agencies as they prepare for improvements and modernization of the ORCA system. As part of that process, Metro is considering options that would allow for speedier boarding, improve safety for drivers, help increase ridership and further reduce barriers for vulnerable populations.

This month, Metro invites the public to provide direction on fare change options and longer-term work on fare-related issues by participating in an online questionnaire. In April, the public will have additional opportunities to provide feedback on fare change options via a second online survey and open houses.

The public can find the survey as well as sign up to receive updates via Metro’s fare review website.

Metro encourages all transit riders to participate, including youth, older adults, students, ORCA Lift riders, riders with disabilities, as well as schools, employers and community-based organizations. Metro also is contracting with community organizations to hear from harder-to-reach populations so their input is considered as Metro assesses options and develops programs to address affordability and access to transit. Feedback during the outreach process will be used to draft proposals. A final proposal will be submitted to the King County Council for consideration in June.

Metro also is convening an advisory group to consider various fare options and advise on additional work Metro needs to do to make transit and ORCA more accessible to people. The group, which will meet three times through May [next meeting April 4th], comprises employers, social service organizations, advocacy groups and others, and serves in an advisory role to provide input on fare options and longer-term programs. Meetings are open to the public for observation. Details are available on the project website.

We went through the survey to see if it included specific options under consideration. In the version we saw, it did not – you are asked an open-ended question at one point about what you think would make fare-paying simpler, and you’re also asked to set priorities for what you would want a changed fare-paying system to accomplish. The survey’s deadline is April 7th.

iggy March 23, 2017 (11:25 am)

Horrible survey. It won’t let you take it unless you give your email and become part of their “community.” I understand they don’t want robots, but for a public survey, they are really invading privacy.

WSB March 23, 2017 (12:29 pm)

Iggy – as noted, I went through the survey to see if there was something to recap that wasn’t mentioned in the Metro news release, but I didn’t have to give an e-mail address – at the start, I chose the option that was something like “just share your opinion with staff.”
Sue H March 23, 2017 (1:29 pm)

I have a “throwaway” email that I signed up for simply to fill out stuff I feel I will be spammed by.
Scott Gutierrez March 24, 2017 (5:03 pm)

You can participate in the survey as an unregistered user. Under that option, your feedback will be shared only with Metro staff and not on the website. If you have other concerns — or would like to request a paper copy of the survey — please contact DeAnna Martin, community relations planner, at 206-477-3835 or deanna.martin@kingcounty.gov.

Sincerely,

Scott Gutierrez/King County Metro

Boats March 23, 2017 (1:24 pm)

I got almost all the way to the end of the survey when it suddenly stopped working.

Jen March 23, 2017 (2:49 pm)

Same thing happened to me. It wouldn’t go to the next page. I decided I’ll just try again another time.

Seattlite March 23, 2017 (4:18 pm)

Memory Lane FYI: In the old days of the late 60’s and early 70’s when I took the bus from WS to downtown , First and Pine, there was never a problem boarding the bus because you just put your quarter in the collection box and sat down. If you needed a transfer to catch another bus, you asked for a transfer on boarding and paying your quarter and used the transfer on the next bus. Boarding the bus was quite easy whether there were a few passengers or standing room only. Since I have not been on a bus since the early 70’s, I don’t know what’s going on now.

flimflam March 23, 2017 (4:56 pm)

i’d say making EVERYONE pay their fare should be included in any payment system.

Cheese March 23, 2017 (9:27 pm)

I think that for $2.50 either the bus should b on time or maybe have a nice, courteous, freindly bus driver… Something cuz with a 2hr transfer ima spend like $200 a month on their awsome transit system where they just cut routes and raise the fare all the time

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