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Redmond staff seek renewal of ORCA transit benefit contract; city paid about $13,513 this year
Summary
City staff asked council to place a one-year renewal of the annual ORCA card contract on the June 17 consent agenda, noting usage rose about 63% and that total fees for the year were about $13,513. The contract renewal is budgeted and not expected to exceed $30,000.
The city of Redmond will ask the City Council to approve a one-year renewal of its annual ORCA (One Regional Card for All) contract for employee transit and vanpool benefits, staff said at the Committee of the Whole on June 3.
The renewal request covers employee transit and vanpool benefits under the pay-as-you-go structure adopted in 2020 and, according to staff, was included in the adopted budget for the commuter assistance office. "This year we've paid about $13,513 in transit ORCA fees," said Linnea Taylor, staff member, who presented the item. Taylor told council staff had observed "an uptick in trips about 63%."
The item is scheduled to be placed on the June 17 consent agenda for council approval. Sarah Fee Allen, Deputy Director, Planning and Public Works, joined Taylor at the dais and answered council questions. Staff estimated the total cost for the renewed contract would not exceed $30,000 and said the renewal would maintain a transit benefit for employees and keep the city in compliance with state law and city goals.
Council member Nueva Camino asked for historical comparisons to the pre-2020 payment structure. Taylor said the earlier pre-2020 payments were paid as a lump sum based on prior-year usage and that lump-sum payments had been "significantly higher" than the current pay-as-you-go billing; she said staff could pull up the prior numbers for comparison.
Taylor also told the council that although trip counts increased, the number of unique users had not grown substantially; rather, she said some employees appear to be using existing cards more frequently. Staff said they will continue to monitor usage and costs and make adjustments as needed, particularly as new light rail lines open.
No formal vote was recorded during the committee discussion; councilmembers indicated no objection to placing the renewal on the June 17 consent agenda.
