Seattle Fare Enforcement Disproportionately Punishes Blacks, Data Show

Sound Transit says its fare enforcement system is design to be unbiased, but analysis about fare evader data indicates disparities.

1 minute read

October 11, 2019, 9:00 AM PDT

By Camille Fink


Sound Transit

vewfinder / Shutterstock

Heidi Groover reports that data from Sound Transit in the Seattle area show that black riders are disproportionately caught in the fare enforcement system. While blacks make up 9 percent of riders on light rail and commuter rail trains, 22 percent of riders who were warned or penalized since 2015 were black.

"For black riders, the disparity grows as the punishment gets more severe, from warnings to $124 tickets to misdemeanor theft charges. In the last four years, about half the riders who faced a misdemeanor charge for failing to pay a fare were black," notes Groover.

Approximately a third of Sound Transit’s rail operating revenue comes from fares, and fare evasion affects the agency's bottom line, says Groover. Critics argue the findings show that fare enforcement measures are problematic and affect those riders least able to pay fines. Still, officials say the reasons behind the disparity and people not paying fares are not entirely clear, and the agency plans to conduct surveys later this year to gain more insight.

Friday, October 4, 2019 in The Seattle Times

courses user

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges. Corey D, Transportation Planner

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges.

Corey D, Transportation Planner

Ready to give your planning career a boost?

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

Seattle Legalizes Co-Living

A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.

December 1, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Times Square in New York City empty during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project

Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.

December 1, 2024 - StreetsBlog NYC

Broken, uneven sidewalk being damaged by large tree roots in Los Angeles, California.

The City of Broken Sidewalks

Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?

December 5, 2024 - Donald Shoup

Dense informal settlement on steep hillside in Brazil.

Housing as a Climate Resilience Strategy

Ensuring that housing, including in informal settlements, is safe and healthy for its residents is a key tool in the fight to build more sustainable and equitable communities in the face of climate migration.

December 11 - Time Magazine

Close-up of person on road bike riding on protected bike lane separated by concrete curb from street.

Southeast LA Road Safety Advocates Call for Improved Infrastructure

Streets in southeastern Los Angeles County have a severe lack of protected bike lanes and traffic safety measures, leading to high numbers of fatalities in a community where many residents depend on walking and biking for daily needs.

December 11 - LA Public Press

Close-up of Chevron gas station sign with logo and prices starting at $7.25.

USDOT: Low-Income Households Bear Highest Transportation Cost Burden

Transportation costs are the second-highest household expenditure behind housing for all income levels.

December 11 - Smart Cities Dive

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.