New Help From Trimet Coming To Your Community
Portland, Oregon -Trimet is bringing some new help straight to you this summer, starting tomorrow. You may not need it, but you probably know someone who does. Trimet’s Tia York says 17,000 people have signed up already since they launched the low income fare program last year. You have to make less than about $25,000 a year to qualify, or about $50,000 a year for a family of four. What’s new this year is Trimet is teaming up with PSU and Portland Parks and Rec to bring the low fare program out into the community at several events, making it easier for folks to sign up and get access. Check TriMet’s Facebook page for more events planned for later this summer.
Read more from Trimet:
TriMet wants to help those struggling financially afford transit, so we’re taking our low-income fare program to Portland neighborhoods this summer. We’re also expanding enrollment services on select Saturdays at Portland State University. A series of 13 sign-up events, held in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation and PSU, will help TriMet’s efforts to get reduced fare into the hands of riders living on a low income. These events provide new opportunities to sign up and save $864 or more on annual transit costs for those who meet the financial requirements. Many of the events will be held in conjunction with Portland Parks & Recreations’s Free Lunch + Play program, which provides healthy meals for local schoolchildren who may experience hunger during the summer months.
Upcoming low-income fare enrollment events
Thursday, July 11
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Cully Park
Friday, July 12
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Gateway Discovery Park
Saturday, July 13
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
PSU Urban Plaza
(Between the SW Mill and SW Montgomery MAX stations)
Wednesday, July 17
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ventura Park
Tuesday, July 23
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Luuit View Park
NE 127th Ave. & NE Fremont St.
Check TriMet’s Facebook page for more events planned for later this summer.
Our low-income fare program gives riders a 72 percent discount off the cost of Adult fare. It is open to residents of Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties who earn up to double the federal poverty level, about $25,000 for an individual and $51,500 for a family of four. Qualification is quick and easy. All you need is a government-issued I.D. and proof of income such as a recent pay stub or an Oregon Health Plan or SNAP benefit card. We also have 13 community partner organizations with locations across the tri-county area that verify for income for program participants.
The low-income fare program is funded by Keep Oregon Moving, which Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed into law following the 2017 legislative session. The law created the state’s first-ever ongoing, stable source of funding for public transit. More than 17,300 people enrolled in the program in its first year, with savings for riders estimated at $2.5 million. Learn more at trimet.org/lowincome.
