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| Seattle to charge public-transit riders based on income | Seattle to charge public-transit riders based on income |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Seattle's transit system has introduced a ticketing system this week that charges riders' based on their income. | |
| The programme - the first of its scale in the US - will provide discounted fares to people whose household income is no more than 200% of the federal poverty level. | The programme - the first of its scale in the US - will provide discounted fares to people whose household income is no more than 200% of the federal poverty level. |
| The programme could reach 100,000 people, transit officials say. | The programme could reach 100,000 people, transit officials say. |
| Proponents say it is was necessary to address inequality after a city tech boom pushed residents into the suburbs. | Proponents say it is was necessary to address inequality after a city tech boom pushed residents into the suburbs. |
| This means a family of four, whose household income is $47,700 (£31,042) can make a bus, train or ferry ride for only $1.50 (£0.97), more than 50 percent off peak fares. | This means a family of four, whose household income is $47,700 (£31,042) can make a bus, train or ferry ride for only $1.50 (£0.97), more than 50 percent off peak fares. |
| Expensive transport systems compounded the problem as workers found they couldn't afford even to get to work. | Expensive transport systems compounded the problem as workers found they couldn't afford even to get to work. |
| "It's people doing really well, and people making espresso for people who are doing really well," Dow Constantine, the King County executive and chairman of Sound Transit, a transportation agency serving several counties in the region said of the area's economic make up. | "It's people doing really well, and people making espresso for people who are doing really well," Dow Constantine, the King County executive and chairman of Sound Transit, a transportation agency serving several counties in the region said of the area's economic make up. |
| 'Everyone is watching' | 'Everyone is watching' |
| San Francisco introduced a similar fare programme called Muni Lifeline in 2005 but 10 years later it still applies to less than 6% of their transport system card holders. | San Francisco introduced a similar fare programme called Muni Lifeline in 2005 but 10 years later it still applies to less than 6% of their transport system card holders. |
| The project is being watched closely by other counties and states. | The project is being watched closely by other counties and states. |
| According to the American Public Transportation Association, more than 70 percent of America's transport systems cut service, raised fares or did both during and after the recession. | According to the American Public Transportation Association, more than 70 percent of America's transport systems cut service, raised fares or did both during and after the recession. |
| "What Seattle has done is what others might consider," Art Guzzetti, vice president for policy at the American Public Transportation Association told The New York Times. "Everyone is watching." | "What Seattle has done is what others might consider," Art Guzzetti, vice president for policy at the American Public Transportation Association told The New York Times. "Everyone is watching." |