<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Passing on for your information.<o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal>Fare Paid Zone markings and removal of ORCA card readers from downtown tunnel stations<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello accessibility stakeholders, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For those who ride Link light rail (1 Line), as part of Sound Transit’s broader fare engagement reforms, we're making the Fare Paid Zones where riders are expected to have valid fare to ride more recognizable, starting with the downtown Link stations. Fare Paid Zone signage and markings, similar to what riders see at University District, Roosevelt and Northgate stations, will be put in place at the rest of the Link stations, starting with Westlake, University Street, Pioneer Square and International District/Chinatown stations. ORCA card readers will eventually be removed from the platform levels of these stations. The project begins this week.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>More information about this change can be found in this Platform blog post on the Sound Transit website:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/saying-goodbye-to-card-readers-platforms-downtown-link-stations">https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/saying-goodbye-to-card-readers-platforms-downtown-link-stations</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The photo at the top of the blog post shows “Pay to Enter” signs installed above the entrance to the elevator leading down to the platform, as well as above the walkway at the top of the escalator and stairs. Yellow tactile floor tiles are installed in front of the elevator entrance (with the ORCA card reader at one end of the tactile floor tile threshold, to the right of the elevator call button), and across the walkway at the top of the escalator and stairs (with ORCA card readers located at both ends of the yellow tactile floor tile threshold). This is representative of what will be installed at the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel stations.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The overhead signs and yellow tactile floor tiles are being installed to mark crossing the Fare Paid Zone threshold on the mezzanine levels of the Westlake, University Street, and Pioneer Square stations, and on the street level of the International District/Chinatown station. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stay tuned for future information on when ORCA card readers will be removed from the platform levels of the tunnel stations. In the meantime, riders are encouraged to start getting in the habit of tapping on and off at the Fare Paid Zone thresholds. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Beth Hamby </span><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(she/her)</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Senior Program Manager-Accessibility Services<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Passenger Experience<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Desk: 206.717.9075<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Sound Transit<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.soundtransit.org/"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>www.soundtransit.org</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=160 height=48 style='width:1.6666in;height:.5in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D8C6B7.BC1076A0" alt="Sound Transit's logo"></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>