<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 Zones and removal of ORCA card readers from platforms in downtown Seattle Link stations beginning 3/20<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>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fare Paid Zone signage, bright yellow floor markings, and tactile floor tiles, similar to what riders experience at University District, Roosevelt and Northgate stations, will be put in place at the rest of the Link stations, starting with Westlake next week. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Between Monday, March 20 and Thursday, March 23, at Westlake Station, Fare Paid Zone signage and tactile floor tiles will be installed, and the ORCA validators will be relocated from the platform to the entrances to the Fare Paid Zone. Any work that would impact accessibility of pathways through the station is planned to be conducted outside of Link service hours.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>University Street, Pioneer Square and International District/Chinatown stations will follow Westlake Station, with the exact dates yet to be determined. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Once the Fare Paid Zones are in place, riders will need to purchase a ticket, tap their ORCA card or activate their ticket on the Transit GO Ticket app, prior to crossing the yellow line with tactile floor tiles, underneath overhead “Pay to Enter” signs, to head to the train platform. ORCA card readers will be located at the threshold to the Fare Paid Zones, to the side of the tactile floor tiles, usually adjacent to elevators, escalators, or stairs to the platform. The tactile floor tiles contain bars that run parallel to the direction of travel across the threshold.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The new Fare Paid Zone design process included collaborating with riders with diverse abilities. Architects created mockups which were tested by people with various mobility needs to give feedback. Additional input was provided by the Citizens Accessibility Advisory Committee during the Committee’s October 2022 meeting. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>More information about the changes to the Fare Paid Zones in the downtown Seattle Link stations can be found in a <a href="https://www.soundtransit.org/blog/platform/saying-goodbye-to-card-readers-platforms-downtown-link-stations">March 14 Platform blog post</a>.<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-Accessible 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><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><a href="http://www.soundtransit.org/">www.soundtransit.org</a><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@01D957FF.BF8DAB70" 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>