PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      4e 
ACTION ITEM 
Date of Meeting    December 08, 2015 
DATE:    November 29, 2015 
TO:      Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:   Tammy Woodard, Assistant Director, Human Resources  Total Rewards 
Paula Edelstein, Senior Director, Human Resources 
SUBJECT:  Authorization to Execute a Contract with King County Metro to Purchase One
Regional Card for All (ORCA) Cards for Port Employees 

ACTION REQUESTED 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to execute a contract with
King County Metro to purchase One Regional Card for All (ORCA) Cards for February 2016  
January 2017 at a cost not to exceed $350,000. This is a time sensitive request. 
SYNOPSIS 
The purpose of the contract with King County Metro is to make One Regional Card for All
(ORCA) Cards available to Port employees for February 2016  January 2017. 
The Port of Seattle is required by Washington State Law (RCW 70.94) to participate in an
employee commute reduction program focused on reducing the number and length of drive-alone
commute trips made to worksites. The Port has an approved program that includes providing
subsidized public transportation to employees and the ORCA contract with King County Metro
is an effective and efficient way to meet this requirement. 

BACKGROUND 
In 1991, Washington State's Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law was passed with goals to
improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and reduce gasoline consumption.  The law
requires "major employers" to develop and implement employee commute programs to reduce
the length and number of drive-alone trips to worksites.  The Port is considered a major
employer and has approved CTR programs for both the City of Seattle and City of SeaTac
locations.  One element of both of the Port's approved programs  is providing a  public 
transportation subsidy. 
The ORCA cards can be used for employees to commute to and from Port work locations via
many public transportation methods including, but not limited to, Sound Transit, Metro, Pierce
Transit, and Community Transit busses as well as the Link Light Rail and Sounder Commuter

Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
November 29, 2015 
Page 2 of 3 
Train. Van pool and van share programs are also available to employees who hold an ORCA
card. 
The Port's current contract with King County Metro will expire January 31, 2016. 
The Port has provided subsidized transportation to its employees for at least the past nine years.
Subsidized cards are offered to all employees and currently about 30%, 575 employees, utilize
this benefit. 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
The estimated value of the February 2016  January 2017 contract is $324, 761 though the actual
value will not be known until January. On average, 575 employees "purchase" an ORCA card
on an annual basis. The annual employee cost of the ORCA card is reviewed each year and has
been $25 for several years. The small cost of the card makes it attractive to employees even in if
they do not commute via public transportation on a regular basis. 
Estimated cost provided by King County Metro  $324,761 
Estimated employees contributions ($25     ($14,375) 
purchase price est. 575 employees) 
Potential credit from Washington State for    ($10,000) 
participating in the Commute Trip Reduction
Program 
Estimated Net Port of Seattle Cost  $300,386 
Human Resources includes the cost of the ORCA contract as well as estimated employee
contributions and the potential credit from the State in our annual operating budget. 

STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES 
Be the greenest and most energy-efficient port in North America. 
Objective: Reduce the number of single occupancy vehicles, reduce traffic congestion, 
and air pollution. 
Total Rewards Philosophy  Port Experience 
The Port Total Rewards Program supports Work-Life Balance by providing an option for
employees to commute to work without driving alone.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
November 29, 2015 
Page 3 of 3 
TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE 
Environmental Responsibility and Community Benefits 
By offering ORCA cards to employees, the Port supports the Commute Trip Reduction Law with
the goal of decreasing automobile-related air pollution, consumption of gasoline and traffic
congestion. 

ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED 
The following alternatives were considered. No alternatives involving small businesses were
considered as public transportation providers are public entities. 
Alternative 1)  Don't renew the contract with King County Metro and stop offering ORCA
cards to employees. If this alternative is selected, the Port will be out of compliance with the 
approved Commute Trip Reduction plans and would therefore be vulnerable to enforcement
actions which could include financial penalties until new plans could be developed, approved
and put into a place. This is not the recommended alternative. 
Alternative 2)  Don't renew the contract with King County Metro and administer a subsidized
public transportation program internally. Assuming a similar Port subsidy, the same number of
ORCA card holders, and the current value of a monthly unlimited ORCA card ($198) the cost of
to the Port would be approximately $1.35M, substantially more than the estimated $324,761.
This option could result in a reduction in the number of employees holding an ORCA card and
using it on at least an occasional basis due to the loss of convenience. This alternative may not
comply with the requirements of a CTR program and it would require additional staff time to
administer the benefit beyond what is currently available within the Human Resources
department, thus it would result in additional staffing and payroll costs.  This is not the 
recommended alternative. 
Alternative 3)  Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute a contract with King County
Metro for the purchase of ORCA cards valid for the period February 2016  January 2017. This
alternative will ensure continued compliance with approved Commute Trip Reduction plans, it is
more cost effective than alternative two mentioned above, and it will likely increase the number
of Port employees who consider commuting via public transportation on an occasional basis.
This is the recommended alternative. 

ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST 
A copy of the current ORCA contract 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
None.