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From page 50... ... CHAPTER 4 Transit Agency Case Studies This chapter includes case studies that represent transit agencies that exemplify a variety of com munity types, transit agency sizes, fare structures, and fare-free experiences. These case studies were developed to inform the evaluation framework and provide more detailed examples of how fare-free transit has been evaluated at transit agencies of different sizes across the United States. Read the entire page →
From page 51... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 51 The transit agency categories are as follows: • Large Urban Regional: Has a large service area population, part of a large or very large urban area, serves multiple communities across an urban area as the main transit provider, and has high ridership. • Urban Local: Located in a large or very large urban area, service area is also served by other large transit providers and has a smaller service area population than large urban regional transit agencies. Read the entire page →
From page 52... ... Survey Respondent and Case Study Transit Agencies by Fare-Free Classification Full fare-free agency survey respondent Partial fare-free agency survey respondent Not fare-free agency survey respondent Case study agency Exhibit 4-2. Map of survey respondent and case study transit agencies by fare-free classification. Read the entire page →
From page 53... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 53 Full Fare-Free Transit Agencies Area Regional Transit Agency Statistics (2019) Agency Type: Small urban/rural Urban Area Poverty Rate: 9% Service Area: St. Read the entire page →
From page 54... ... 54 Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework • Subsidy per passenger boarding decreased from $10 to $5. • A slight decrease in operating speed occurred after the removal of fares, likely due to the increase in boardings. Read the entire page →
From page 55... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 55 • Make transit accessible for everyone. • Contribute to a strong local economy by allowing users to have more disposable income to use in the local economy. Read the entire page →
From page 56... ... 56 Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework Fare-Free Context • Staff championed the concept, and the program was passed through City Council. • In anticipation of increased ridership, CTS increased revenue hours by 5% and consolidated some bus stops. Read the entire page →
From page 57... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 57 KEY TAKEAWAYS DASH launched full zero-fare service in 2021 after suspending fares for 1 year during the COVID 19 pandemic. The launch was combined with the implementation of the first phase of DASH's bus network redesign plan. Read the entire page →
From page 58... ... 58 Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework • The City of Alexandria was awarded $7.2 million over 3 years through the Virginia Depart ment of Rail and Public Transportation's (DRPT's) Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) Read the entire page →
From page 59... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 59 Greater Richmond Transit Company Agency Statistics (2019) Agency Type: Urban local Urban Area Poverty Rate: 1 1 % Service Area: G reater Rich mond , V A Service Area Population: 0.5 million Service Area Size: 227 sq. Read the entire page →
From page 60... ... 60 Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework • GRTC has identified funding partnerships through June 2023 and is exploring opportunities for continued business and institutional partnerships through the life of the program and beyond. Intercity Transit Agency Statistics (2019) Read the entire page →
From page 61... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 61 Program Funding • Farebox revenue was not replaced as part of the project, as the estimated savings was higher than the estimated cost. • Sales tax revenues for transit increased in 2018 due to an unrelated ballot measure. Read the entire page →
From page 62... ... 62 Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework • Rider surveys and stakeholder interviews were conducted on experiences so far as well as concerns and desires about the future of transit and fares. Outcomes • Ridership and on-time performance statistics were collected, but due to impacts of the pandemic, the influence of zero-fare service is unclear. Read the entire page →
From page 63... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 63 • Before the fare-free pilot, Link Transit operated four fare-free shuttle routes within Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, and Leavenworth. Fare-Free Policy Goals • Attract ridership. Read the entire page →
From page 64... ... 64 Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework KEY TAKEAWAYS Mountain Line eliminated fares in 2015, which resulted in a significant ridership increase. The additional ridership made Mountain Line more competitive for grant money, and the transit agency is now in a better place financially than before the fare-free program. Read the entire page →
From page 65... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 65 Partial Fare-Free Transit Agencies Denver Regional Transportation District Agency Statistics (2019) Agency Type: Large urban regional Urban Area Poverty Rate: 8% Service Area: G reater D enver, CO Service Area Population* Read the entire page →
From page 66... ... 66 Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework • Free Mall Ride and Free Metro Ride have been fare-free since their launch and were not budgeted to require fares. Passengers often transfer to or from other RTD services and pay a fare then. Read the entire page →
From page 67... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 67 Outcomes • The evaluation found that free fares would result in significant fixed-route and paratransit ridership increases. • METRO estimated that the additional ridership would result in the need for hundreds of new operators and buses, additional administrative capacity, and a new bus facility, which would together cost over $100 million in capital costs alone. Read the entire page →
From page 68... ... 68 Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework • Streamline fare structure and policies. • Make transit an affordable option. Read the entire page →
From page 69... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 69 • The goal of the pilot is to identify challenges and offer recommendations on how to best implement long-term, fare-free transit for students and potentially expand to include addi tional groups of riders in the future, including riders with low incomes. • The transit agency's board of directors will decide how to proceed after an evaluation of the pilot. Read the entire page →
From page 70... ... 70 Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework KEY TAKEAWAYS Political advocates, including the newly elected mayor, see fare-free transit as a tool to expand mobility and promote affordability. The MBTA is piloting fare-free transit on three routes that provide essential travel connections and a high ridership route that primarily serves riders with low incomes and people of color. Read the entire page →
From page 71... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 71 Ride On Agency Statistics (2019) Agency Type: Urban local Urban Area Poverty Rate: 8% Service Area: M ontgomery County, M D Service Area Population: 1 million Service Area Size: 4 95 sq. Read the entire page →
From page 72... ... 72 Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework Outcomes • Ridership changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic have made gauging the outcomes of fare-free service difficult. Program Funding • Federal COVID-19 relief funding replaced fare revenues for the short term. Read the entire page →
From page 73... ... Transit Agency Case Studies 73 • The Bay Area's MTC is evaluating the Clipper START program that focuses on six outcomes: awareness and marketing, customer experience, financial viability, administrative feasibility, affordability, and access and mobility. Outcomes • No change in ridership or associated challenges such as longer wait times or increased crowding. Read the entire page →
From page 74... ... 74 Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework Evaluation • No official evaluation was undertaken after the introduction of fares or after the removal of the in-town fares, but passenger trip data showed a clear impact on ridership. • Public surveys and meetings provided feedback on the fare structure. Read the entire page →

From page 50...

... CHAPTER 4 Transit Agency Case Studies This chapter includes case studies that represent transit agencies that exemplify a variety of com munity types, transit agency sizes, fare structures, and fare-free experiences. These case studies were developed to inform the evaluation framework and provide more detailed examples of how fare-free transit has been evaluated at transit agencies of different sizes across the United States.