What does 'fare compliance' mean for light rail riders?

This week, Sound Transit fare ambassadors, those blue-vested, yellow-hatted transit employees, started issuing warnings to train riders who haven’t paid their fare.

Eventually, those warnings could add up to a civil infraction. It’s the first time in more than three years that Sound Transit is enforcing fares.

The regional transit authority stopped enforcement during the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, when ridership was plummeting and there was concern about face-to-face contact.

Data from that time also showed that Black riders were more than twice as likely to be cited by transit fare enforcement for non-payment and four times more likely to end up with a misdemeanor.

In 2022, 16% of Link Light Rail's operating revenue came from fares, short of the agency's goal of 40%.

"The board needed to consider how do we encourage fare compliance in an equitable and sustainable manner," said Julie Timm, CEO of Sound Transit.

"That really was the foundation for why Sound Transit reengaged in how it addresses fare compliance."

Timm described the new fare compliance system as "a series of escalations."

Riders will receive two warnings for non-payment. After that, riders will incur a $50 fine, which can be alleviated by adding $50 to an Orca Card or by participating in a virtual training. That fine escalates to $75 dollars on the fourth non-payment but can, again, be resolved by adding money to an Orca Card.

A fifth instance of non-payment will lead to a $124 civil infraction, which may result in a misdemeanor if unpaid.

Timm said that Sound Transit plans to ramp up the number of fare ambassadors, from the current number between 25-50 to 150 or more within the next year or two.

Listen to Soundside's full conversation with Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm by clicking the play icon at the top of this story