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Free ORCA bus passes for 1,500 low-income Seattle residents

Some Seattleites who live in public housing will soon have access to free transit passes as part of a one-year, $1 million pilot program.

Some Seattleites who live in public housing will soon have access to free transit passes as part of a one-year, $1 million pilot program.

Mayor Jenny Durkan announced in February that her administration would offer some 1,500 Seattle Housing Authority residents the free unlimited ORCA passes.

The Seattle Times reported Friday the authority has started helping people sign up for them.

To qualify, residents must be between 19 and 64, live within the Seattle Transportation Benefit District and earn less than 30% of the area median income (or about $23,000 for a single person and $30,000 for a family of three).

Other discounted programs already serve seniors and people 18 and younger. Last year, the mayor and City Council approved spending up to $7 million a year to give transit passes to public high-school students and some college students.

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