‘City
of
Roses’
Volume XLVII • Number 27
Kids Tee Up
for Golf
Campaigning
While Black
Play is free
on Mondays
at two public
courses
Lawmaker shares
experience when
cops called
See Local News, page 3
See Metro, page 9
www.portlandobserver.com
Wednesday • July 11, 2018
Established in 1970
Committed to Cultural Diversity
Low Income Fares Begin
Adults who
qualify pay
half the cost
Some good news on affordability for
public transit this month as new low-in-
come fares went into effect for qualified
adult riders on TriMet and new govern-
mental agreements mean many Portland
area high school students will again ride
free when classes start back in the fall.
TriMet officially began its low-income
fare program on July 2, allowing adults
who qualify to pay half the cost of a single
ride or day pass, or to purchase a monthly
pass at a 72 percent discount, the same as
it now offers on “Honored Citizen” fares.
Reducing costs for low-income riders
removes a barrier to using transit. The fi-
nancial help is one of TriMet’s goals for
better access to the public system and a top
priority by rider advocates like Opal En-
vironmental Justice Oregon, a group that’s
advocated for a low-income fare program.
“Adding this new eligibility to our Hon-
ored Citizen program removes yet another
barrier to using transit,” TriMet General
Manager Doug Kelsey said, announcing
the low-income fare last month. “When
that happens, doors of opportunity open.
Whether it’s getting to a new job or a
child’s daycare, making transit accessible
and affordable for those struggling finan-
cially make a difference in the communi-
ties we serve.”
The transit agency began testing reduced
fares for low-income adults in June. The
program expands eligibility to TriMet’s
“Honored Citizen” fare, the term the agen-
cy uses for providing reduced fares for
people over 65 and for people with mental
and physical disabilities.
Now those earning up to 200 percent of
the federal poverty level are eligible for the
discount, reducing a single trip from $2.50
to $1.25 or a monthly pass from $100 to
$28. That means individuals who make
$24,276 or less annually can qualify (an
C ontinued on P age 4
The July start for TriMet’s new low-income fare reduces barriers to public transit making access to the system affordable for
those struggling financially.