Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework (2023) / Chapter Skim
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Chapter 2 - Using the Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework
Chapter 2 - Using the Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework
Pages 10-33
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From page 10... ...
a preferred alternative. Because the framework follows the general prin ciples of program evaluation, it may also be used after implementation to evaluate the long-term Get Organized Make a Plan Evaluate Step 1: Set the context Step 5: Set evaluation Step 9: Estimate Step 2: Assess the goals and objectives impacts existing conditions Step 6: Determine Step 10: Select Step 3: Review peer performance measures preferred alternative transit agencies Step 7: Establish Step 4: Identify selection criteria opportunities and Step 8: Select fare-free challenges transit alternatives Stakeholder and Public Outreach Exhibit 2-1.
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Whether the framework is being used before or after implementation, the project team should allocate sufficient time to complete the steps and plan the evaluation process accordingly. Two types of callouts are provided throughout the evaluation framework to share examples of how the framework was used in practice ("Framework in Practice")
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Evaluation framework callout types. Get Organized At the onset of the process, those interested in evaluating fare-free transit alternatives should get organized with the following steps: • Step 1: Set the context for the evaluation of fare-free transit, including identifying relevant con text and forming a project team.
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The project team evaluated the 3-month pilot across six goals and corresponding metrics that looked at social impact, changes in bus operations, and other key elements (see "Fare-Free Pilot Evaluation Results -- MBTA")
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Stakeholders from three key groups should be identified at the outset of the evaluation process: transit agency staff, decision makers, and community partners. Once formed, the project team should determine the appropriate engagement process for providing updates to and gathering feedback from stakeholders.
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Useful community partners may include staff from municipal departments, MPOs, or neighboring transit agencies. The size and composition of the project team will be unique for each transit agency.
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The data collected in this step can be referenced to identify transit-agency-specific opportunities and challenges in Step 4, inform the selection of fare-free transit alternatives in Step 8, and estimate the impacts in Step 9. Potential elements of the existing conditions analysis include documenting recent ridership and performance trends, planned service or network changes, transit funding, fare structure and policy, fare usage, fare collection costs, and community demographics.
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? Consider Community Demographics Because fare-free transit can be a tool to promote more equitable access to transit, the project team should analyze existing community demographics to understand who would benefit from fare-free transit.
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? Document Fare Structure and Policy The project team should document the existing fare structure, as well as any governing fare policy that dictates goals for fare collection or guidelines for making fare changes.
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2019 Annual Fare Collection Costs -- Sun Tran Fare Collection Element Annual Cost (2019) Farebox Tech Staff Costs $165,000 Economy Program Administration $225,000 SunGO Smartcards and SunGO ID Cards $200,000 GenFare Maintenance $100,000 Total Fare Collection Cost $690,000 Annual Fare Revenue $12,000,000 Percent of Fare Revenue Spent on Fare Collection 6% Source: Sun Tran Fare Study, City of Tucson, 2022.
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The project team looked at a comparison of median income, income for financial independence, and percentage of cost-burden households for the peer transit agency service areas and found that Ride On is more closely aligned with transit agencies that have implemented means-tested policies rather than full fare-free policies.
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If the project team has identified any relevant trade-offs (e.g., between adding service and eliminating fares) , they should ensure that the public is informed of potential trade-offs when asking for feedback.
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For example, a survey showing that most residents with low incomes support the idea of fare-free transit can guide the evaluation toward an alternative that meets the needs of a target population. Theme Opportunities Challenges Access, Increased ridership Reduction to current Mobility, & Increased accessibility service and constraints to Equity for riders who face adding additional service financial barriers Mobility and access may More equitable transit be difficult to monitor funding with potential loss of fare media data Operational Improved service Additional fixed-route Efficiency efficiency and paratransit service, Faster boardings fleet, and staffing Elimination of farebox Impacts to the system conflicts by disruptive passengers Financial Health Fare collection cost Loss of farebox revenue savings Securing long-term More stable transit sustainable funding funding Community Increased community Negative perception of Impacts pride transit subsidy Reduction in automobile trips Exhibit 2-4.
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Examples of implemented goals and objectives used during Iowa City Transit's evaluation of fare-free transit are in "Framework in Practice: Goals and Objectives in Iowa City's Transit Fare Study." Goals Objectives Improve Increase overall transit ridership Access, Increase mobility of specific rider groups Mobility, & Promote equitable transit funding Equity Ensure Accommodate increased fixed-route service demand Operational Accommodate increased paratransit service demand Efficiency Improve operational efficiency Ensure safety of riders and transit operators Promote Maintain existing external funding sources Financial Health Access additional funding sources Reduce additional costs Support quality levels of service Minimize additional rider subsidy Encourage Reduce dependence on single-occupancy vehicles Positive Increase local economic stimulation Community Meet community needs for the transportation system Impacts Exhibit 2-5. Example goals and objectives.
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Fare Study Goals and Objectives -- Iowa City Transit Increase ridership while balancing revenue goals Double ridership in 10 years Maintain farebox revenue Improve passenger experience Simplify fare pricing Remove barriers to transit Streamline fare structure and policies Look for opportunities for fare integration Improve coordination between agencies Make transit an affordable option Consider low-income and disadvantaged populations Source: City of Iowa City 2020 Step 6: Determine Performance Measures For each objective, the project team should determine which performance measures they want to include in the evaluation. These should be metrics that can be measured by the project team within the evaluation timeline and with available data.
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– Additional safety and security costs Support quality levels of service – Total financial impact (foregone fare revenue, fare collection cost savings, additional operational costs, additional funding opportunities) Minimize additional rider subsidy – Total cost per new fare-free rider Encourage Reduce dependence on single-occupancy vehicles Positive – Vehicular traffic Community – Community mode split (e.g., driving alone, taking transit, Impacts biking, walking)
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This gives the project team a chance to define thresholds for the performance of the alternatives across various performance measures. The level of detail included in the selection criteria will vary based on the program context, feedback received from stakeholders, and the transit decision-making process.
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Step 8: Select Fare-Free Transit Alternatives After designing the evaluation plan, the project team should select which fare-free policy or program to evaluate. Based on findings in the previous steps and engagement with stakeholders, the project team can identify opportunities to implement fare-free transit, whether it is full or partial fare-free transit for specific riders, services, routes, times of day, or geographies.
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For any partial fare-free alternatives, the project team should define details for each alternative. Details should include the following: • Who is eligible for fare-free transit?
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• Step 10: Select preferred alternative using the selection criteria and appropriate decision making process. Step 9: Estimate Impacts The project team should gather credible evidence across the various performance measures for each alternative and compare the impacts across the alternatives.
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Framework in Practice: Link Transit Analysis Process Using fare study goals of attracting ridership, improving operational effi ciency, and reducing the costs of collecting fares, Link Transit completed an evaluation of full fare-free transit across multiple performance mea sures including fixed-route ridership, fixed-route productivity, fixed-route operating costs, paratransit operating costs, foregone fare revenue, fare collection costs, additional funding opportunities, and annual change in operating costs. The project team started by estimating ridership increases on fixed-route transit and paratransit.
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2021, Figure 5-6 Framework in Practice: Ride On Alternatives Comparison The Ride On Zero & Reduced Fare Study (MCDOT 2021) evaluated four fare-free and reduced-fare alternatives across seven goals and respective performance measures including magnitude of benefit to riders with low incomes, increase in ridership from riders without vehicle access, change in net operating support ($NOS)
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. If a fare-free transit alternative is selected as the preferred alternative, the project team will want to solidify details before implementation (e.g., timeline, funding, eligibility, program administration)
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Source: METRO 2020 Implement and Monitor Program After deciding to implement a preferred fare-free transit alternative, the project team should take additional steps to ensure that evaluation continues past implementation. This evaluation differs in purpose from the evaluation steps in the evaluation framework.
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