TriMet's Reduced Fare Program Sees Early Success

PORTLAND, OR — TriMet on Wednesday announced the early success of its new Honored Citizen program for low-income riders, which reduces the costs of daily, monthly, and annual passes for TriMet's public transit. Since the agency expanded its reduced fare program on July 1, more than 1,500 people have reportedly signed up.

According to TriMet, the new Honored Citizen program reduces the typical cost for a single ride or day pass by 50 percent; monthly passes are reduced by 72 percent. The reduced fares are reportedly comparable to roughly $900 in annual savings.

"TriMet’s committed to increasing the accessibility of our system,” TriMet Director of Diversity and Transit Equity John Gardner said in a statement on TriMet's website. “The new resources allow us to make transit even more affordable, connecting people to employment, health care, family and friends.”

The new program was reportedly made possible by the passage of House Bill 2017, or the "Keep Oregon Moving" bill, which increased the state's gas, bicycle, and public transportation payroll taxes, as well as the cost of title and vehicle registration fees, in order to fund a variety of new transportation infrastructure and technology investments across Oregon.

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To qualify for the Honored Citizen program reduced fare, an applicant would need to meet the following criteria:

• Age 18 to 64
• Oregon resident
• Possess government-issued ID
• Can provide proof of annual income less than double the federal poverty level
  • For an individual: no more than $2,023 per month/$24,276 year year
  • For a family of four: no more than $4,183 per month/$50,196 per year
  • For a family of eight: no more than $7,063 per month/$84,756 per year
• Not already using Honored Citizen Fare

For more information on the Honored Citizen program, or to apply, visit TriMet.org/LowIncome.

Image via Travis Loose/Patch