On Tuesday, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced the start of free youth fares on Amtrak Cascades services. Free youth fares will apply to both trains and buses operated under the Cascades brand, but only in Washington.
โWe hope to inspire an entire generation to consider trains as a viable option when traveling along the Interstate-5 corridor,โ Jason Biggs, WSDOT rail division chief, said in a statement. โWith panoramic views from comfortable seats and food and drink options on board, traveling by train is enjoyable for parents and children alike. It's a great option for families and people who don't or can't drive. Plus, it's much better for the environment than driving.โ
Youth under 18 will be able to ride Cascades for free under the new program; Young people under 2 years old already travel for free. Youth must have made reservations to take advantage of the program and will only be eligible for free fares on reservations that involve travel between stations in Washington.
When traveling out of state, youth passengers can book separate travel segments to earn the free youth fare for the in-state portion. For passengers under 16 years of age, the reservation of the accompanying adult must match for the discount on the free youth rate to be applied. The portion of the trip beyond Washington would still have to be booked separately and would not be free for youth.
Although travel beyond Washington will incur a youth fare, Amtrak Cascades offers a 50% discount to youth ages 2 to 12. In addition to this, one baby under 2 years old for each paying adult can travel free on an adult's lap.
There are some important program conditions for free youth fares, including the following:
- Free youth fares are only available for economy class seats.
- Free youth fares can only be booked online (currently only Amtrak.com and Amtrak mobile apps), by phone (1.800.USA.RAIL), or with ticket agents at staffed stations; They cannot be obtained at station kiosks or on board trains.
- Unaccompanied young people under 16 years of age will still have to pay the usual fees for traveling alone.
- The program does not apply to other Amtrak services (Coast Starlight and Empire Builder) that operate in Washington.
If young passengers already have future trips booked, it may be worth considering canceling a paid ticket and rebooking for a free fare trip. Passengers are advised to review the conditions of their tickets.
Funding for the youth free fare program comes from the state. A total of $12 million is expected to go to the Cascades program over the next six years or so, said Janet Matkin, a WSDOT spokeswoman. The urban planner. The state Department of Transportation estimates the first two years of the program will cost about $2.25 million, and then about $2 million for each subsequent biennial budget period.
"The majority of the funding will be used to offset lost revenue from ticket sales," Matkin said. โThe program is funded entirely by the Climate Commitment Law [CCA] available through the Advance washYongton income package.โ Starting in late 2022, WSDOT also offers Free fares for youth on Washington State Ferries routes through the Move Ahead Washington transportation package.
However, the CEC is at risk of being repealed by a Republican-backed initiative. If voters approve the initiative in this year's general election, it could jeopardize free youth fare programs across the state because they rely on state revenue. limit and invest program integrated into the CCA law. Recent polls on CCA repeal shows the measure facing an uphill battle to be approvedBut the campaign season will heat up in the coming months and could swing voters' opinions in either direction.
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in big cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been at The Urbanist since 2014.
