Festive Holiday Greetings--from Metro

RantWoman is behind on dealing with NEWS. RantWoman ran into a friend aboard a bus last week. The first thing the friend did after greeting RantWoman was to read aloud from the festive holiday tidings all over the Rider Alert signs: IMPENDING Fare increases effective January 1. THANKS for the notice.

(RantWoman does not live in a cave. RantWoman knows that every single government entity is facing budget deficits, draconian cuts, and nothing good on the horizon in the fiscal environment. RantWoman has not necessarily wanted to chase every twist of detail. RantWoman is not sure a different combination of details would distress her any less.)

Next, RantWoman heard more about pending fare increases from RantMom. RantMom uses ACCESS and was trying to make sense of the info in her letter. RantWoman has listened a couple times and encouraged RantMom to call Customer Service and get the info straight from the horse's mouth. Enough said

RantWoman MAY get around to checking her email to see whether the latest emanation she received from Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond mentioned anything about these fare increases. It's one thing to receive email. It's another actually to read it. Based on today's blind poking around, it's still another to connect with concise information about one's situation.

But today, RantWoman thinks Metro / ORCA must have read her mind. RantWoman has a couple comments about the email she received:

--RantWoman has HEARD that there is the option of paying a fee and buying an annual pass at SUBSTANTIAL savings over the new monthly fees. RantWoman thinks it would be REALLY nice to mention this option in this letter. RantWoman thinks this even though RantWoman actually has cash flow issues due partly to some pending invoices. RantWoman herself is unlikely to come up with the whole year pass funds; RantWoman imagines there are a lot of other Regional Reduced Fare Permit customers in the same boat, but RantWoman would definitely like to see the option mentioned for people who might be in a position to take advantage of it.

--RantWoman still finds it incredibly confusing to figure out what she needs based on the pass / fare level descriptions. RantWoman has no inclination to dispute the contents of the letter below; RantWoman just wishes this could be described in a less confusing way.

--RantWoman is reading the description of how the new card will work. RantWoman actually thinks she will LIKE having a number of things simplified and this sounds like a nugget of REALLY good news. Festive holiday greetings to all!

--IF RantWoman wants a reason to get a headache, she can probably think more about cross-county regional express bus fares. RantWoman does NOT want more reasons to get headaches, at least not today and will note the point before the next of her occasional inter-county express expeditions.

RantWoman hereby reprints the emanation she received via email with only slight formatting corrections.

Dear Valued Customer:

Our records show that you currently have the Metro Monthly Reduced Fare Pass set-up to Autoload to your Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) every month. This is to advise you that your Autoload will be canceled by December 24th, 2010.

Why the change? December 2010 will be the last month that Metro sells a monthly or annual Reduced Fare Pass. If you currently pay your fare with a Metro monthly Reduced Fare Pass, you will need to purchase a $27 PugetPass (valid for a $.75 fare) for the month of January.

The reduced fare on King County Metro busses will remain at $.75 per trip. In addition, Sound Transit (ST) has lowered its fare for customers with a Regional Reduced Fare permit. The PugetPass will not only cover your fare on King County Metro busses, but also any bus trips with Community Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit and Pierce Transit. With the PugetPass you will be able to ride all ST Link trips as well as any ST Regional Express bus trips within any county ST express busses operate. If you ride on any trips that charge a higher fare than $.75, such as ST Sounder or cross-county Regional Express trips, or Community Transit’s commuter routes, you pay the additional fare above the $.75 value of your PugetPass.

To have the $.75 PugetPass automatically load to your RRFP every month, please follow these steps:

1) Purchase a January $.75 PugetPass ($27) anytime after December 1st. Please Note: You can only set-up a new Autoload if the pass product is already present on your card.

2) Set-up a new Autoload for the new PugetPass. The Autoload function will activate about 24 hours later when you first tap the card. When you activate the Autoload function anytime prior to the end of January, your February pass will automatically load when you first use your RRFP card in February.

You can make the Autoload changes online, by mail or in-person:

Online - If you have online access to view your card, you can set-up your new Autoload at www.orcacard.com .Mail – If you do not have an online account, then we will need a signed copy of an Autoload form. An Autoload form is attached to this email. Autoload forms can also be printed online. Go to www.orcacard.com, enter “Autoload form” in the Search field at the top of the screen and select “Print Autoload form”. Please sign the ORCA Autoload form and mail it to:
ORCA Regional Mail Center
201 S Jackson St
MS TR-0108
Seattle, WA 98104-3856

In-person –
Metro Pass Sales Office, 201 S. Jackson St, Seattle; Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Westlake Customer Stop, Westlake Tunnel Station, Westlake Mezzanine; Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Please call King County Metro Customer Information at 206-553-3000 if you have any further questions.