Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation (“Community Transit”) is offering transit incentives to qualified employers (including non-profits) through the Community-based Organizations Partnerships Program (“Program”). The Program is intended to help eligible community-based organizations (CBOs) provide a sustainable transportation program for their employees with subsidized transit passes through the ORCA Business Passport program. Through the Program, Community Transit provides a one hundred percent (100%) discount to the standard amount qualifying employers contribute to purchasing employee transit passes, for a minimum of 5 participants and up to 499 participants per eligible employer. This discount offsets one hundred percent (100%) of first-year employer costs for new ORCA for Business contracts.

The goal of the Program is to encourage employees who receive an ORCA card through the Program to switch from single-occupancy, drive-alone transportation to public transit or other mobility alternatives to driving alone. Through the Program, Community Transit hopes to encourage participating organizations to continue to provide ORCA transit pass subsidies to their employees after participation in the Program has ended.

Furthermore, the Program requires a partnership with participating organizations to proactively educate the vulnerable populations they serve about available reduced fare programs (e.g. ORCA LIFT, Subsidized Annual Pass, Senior, Disabled, and Youth) and establish enrollment opportunities for qualified individuals.

The Program is available to eligible organizations that provide a service to at least one of the following populations: low-income individuals and households, seniors, disabled adults, and youth. Eligible organizations must be located in Community Transit’s Public Transportation Benefit Area with fewer than five hundred (500) benefit-eligible employees and will be administered by Community Transit.

Program Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to participate in the Program, an employer must meet the following requirements:

(1) The employer must have between five (5) and four hundred ninety-nine (499) benefit-eligible employees at its participating worksite(s) and must at a minimum cover all benefit-eligible employees except those who work one hundred percent (100%) remotely;

(2) The employer must not charge employees to participate in the ORCA Business Passport program;

(3) The one hundred percent (100%) ORCA subsidy applies to the employer’s expense for up to four hundred ninety-nine (499) employees’ transit passes;

(4) The employer must be located in Community Transit’s Public Transportation Benefit Area;

(5) The employer is responsible for ensuring that both current and new employees receive and complete a survey link before distributing free ORCA passes. The survey link will be provided by Community Transit and contain the following questions:

1. In the past 3 months, which of the following travel options have you used for your work commute? Please select all that you used for at least 5 minutes during any part of a trip.
2. [For each travel option selected above] How satisfied were you with [travel option] as part of your commute?
3. Which of the following statements best describes your transit use?
4. Which of the following would make you more likely to consider alternatives to driving alone? Select all that apply.
5. How important is it to you that your employer offers transportation benefits? (e.g., free ORCA card, monthly incentives, commuter support)

(6) The employer agrees to host Community Transit for a program orientation where employees learn about sustainable transportation options, get guidance for riding transit using ORCA, and receive their ORCA cards.

(7) The employer agrees to share program information and incentives with employees at least once per month (e.g., service updates, trip challenges, or seasonal promotions). Community Transit will share a monthly digital newsletter and can provide print materials if needed.

(8) The employer must provide space for a digital and/or physical transportation information display in a location visible and accessible to employees and the public. Community Transit can provide physical displays and informational materials.

(9) The employer must coordinate with Community Transit staff for at least one additional employee engagement opportunity during the Program.

(10) The employer is responsible for managing their ORCA Passport account. This includes collecting ORCA cards from departing employees, ordering and distributing cards as needed, and notifying Community Transit if additional resources or support are required.

(11) Employer must be an organization that directly serves at least one of the following populations:

• Low-income individuals and households
• Seniors (65+)
• Adults with disabilities
• Youth (18 and under

(12) Employer agrees to select at least one (1) employee to serve as a transit ambassador. This person will complete Community Transit’s travel training and orientation, which provides an overview of regional transit options, rider tips, and reduced fare programs. The training must be completed within three (3) months of joining the Program.

(13) Employer agrees to actively support Community Transit initiatives that help the people they serve learn about available transit options and reduced fare programs- such as ORCA LIFT, Subsidized Annual Pass, and fare programs for seniors, riders with disabilities, and youth. This includes engaging with their community through communication channels and outreach efforts that increase awareness and accessibility of these programs. Employers should provide feedback on programming, share clear and timely information, and ensure outreach efforts are inclusive and equitable to reach as many individuals as possible.

The employer agrees to carry out at least two (2) of the following activities during the Program. Employers can propose their own outreach ideas for consideration or agree to carry out the activities listed below:

• Host on-site public events in coordination with Community Transit to support reduced fare outreach and enrollment assistance.
• Schedule group travel training sessions led by Community Transit staff to help community members learn how to navigate local transit.
• Include a transportation section in community newsletters or similar communications to share updates, resources, and transit information. Community Transit will share relevant information through a monthly digital newsletter.
• Incorporate transit education and travel training referrals into existing client services or case management to ensure transportation access is considered in support plans. Community Transit can provide digital and print informational materials to share with clients.

(14) If the employer exits the program after year one, the employer must assist employees transition to individually owned ORCA cards including hosting a tabling event with Community Transit staff and/or distributing information; and

(15) An authorized representative of the employer must sign a Program Participation Agreement to receive incentive funds.

Program Eligibility Requirements

3.1 Voluntary Participation. Participation in the Program is strictly voluntary.

3.2 No Partnership or Joint Venture. No partnership, joint venture, employer-employee or agent-principal relationship is formed with Community Transit either by this Agreement or by participation in the Program.

3.3 Personal Information. Public access to any personal information that may be received through this Agreement is subject to the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW and the Community Transit Privacy policy found at communitytransit.org/privacy-policy. Personal information may be shared with third parties, such as Community Transit consultants for the purpose of data analysis.

3.4 Indemnification. The participating employer, in consideration of the request and permission to participate in the Program and any funds received through the Program, hereby assumes full responsibility and all risk of injury or loss, including without limitation, financial loss or personal injury, including death, which may result from participation in the Program. Neither Community Transit, nor any officer, official, or employee thereof shall be responsible for any damage or liability occurring by reason of any action or omission by the undersigned participating employer under or in connection with this Agreement. The participating employer hereby agrees to hold harmless, release, waive, forever discharge, and covenant not to sue or bring claims against Community Transit, their officers, officials, agents, or employees. The terms of this release shall serve as a release and assumption of risks for employer’s successors, executors, and administrators.

The participating employer shall fully indemnify, defend, and hold Community Transit, their officers, officials, agents, and employees harmless from and against any and all liability and expenses, including without limitation, defense costs, any costs or liability on account of bodily injury, death or personal injury of any person or for damage to or loss of risk of property, and any legal fees and any claims for damages of any nature whatsoever arising out of the participating employer’s participation in the Program, including without limitation:

1. Breach of the employer's obligations under this Agreement; or
2. Any act or omission of the employer, or its employees, officers, agents, or subcontractors in connection with its participation in the Program. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give rights to any person or entity that is not a party to this Agreement.

The participating employer, by specific mutual negotiation and agreement, expressly waives all immunity and limitation on liability, as respects Community Transit only, under Washington’s Industrial Insurance Act, Chapter 51 RCW, or any other industrial insurance or workers’ compensation act, disability benefit act, or other employee benefit act of any jurisdiction which would otherwise be applicable in the case of such claim, to the fullest extent necessary to provide Community Transit with a full and complete indemnity of claims made by the participating employer’s employees.

The provisions of Section 3.4 (Indemnification) shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

3.5 Term of Agreement. The Agreement shall be effective as of the date the participating employer signs this Agreement and shall remain effective until Community Transit terminates the Agreement or upon the participating employer’s completion of all commitments and obligations under this Agreement.

3.6 Reservation of Rights and Reimbursement of Funds. Community Transit reserves the right to establish a wait list for Program enrollment, change the Program, or cancel the Program at any time, without obligation, at the sole discretion of Community Transit. Community Transit reserves the right to deny funding for any employers and to terminate the funding for the Program if Community Transit deems that it is in the best interest of the agency to do so. Any violation of the Program Participation Eligibility Requirements or failure to comply with the Terms and Conditions of this Agreement will require that the participating employer reimburse all Program incentive funds received pursuant to this Agreement.

3.7 Information Sharing. Community Transit is authorized under this Agreement to provide its subcontractors, consultants, and agents any information related to employer’s participation in the Program.

Offer valid through Dec. 31, 2026