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Fare-Free Transit Evaluation Framework (2023) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 55-61

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From page 55...
... miles Passenger Trips: 1 million Operating Expense: $3 million Farebox Recovery: 0% KEY TAKEAWAYS Corvallis Transit System (CTS) implemented full fare-free transit in 2011 with funding from a Transit Operations Fee on utility bills.
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From page 56...
... • The success of the program is measured quantitatively through ridership and qualitatively through informal community feedback. Outcomes • The transit agency saw a 39% increase in ridership in the first year, particularly among indi viduals with low incomes and people experiencing homelessness.
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From page 57...
... • The transit agency estimated that upgrading its fareboxes would cost an estimated $3 to $4 million. Program Funding • The Alexandria City Council approved an additional $1.7 million annual operating subsidy for FY2022.
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From page 58...
... miles Passenger Trips: 1 .3 million Operating Expense: $4 .1 million Farebox Recovery: 0% KEY TAKEAWAYS GoLine has operated fare-free transit service since the transit agency's inception, due in part to the large upfront costs of building a fare collection system. The transit agency is ranked as the most efficient transit agency in Florida, with the highest number of riders per local dollar of investment.
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From page 59...
... Fare-Free Context • Starting in 2019, GRTC began exploring potential changes to the fare structure that could benefit riders with low incomes. • The transit agency suspended fares in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has extended the policy twice.
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From page 60...
... Agency Type: Small urban/rural Urban Area Poverty Rate: 1 0% Service Area: Th urston County, W A Service Area Population: 0.2 million Service Area Size: 1 01 sq. miles Passenger Trips: 4 .7 million Operating Expense: $4 4 .6 million Farebox Recovery: 9% KEY TAKEAWAYS Intercity Transit launched a 5-year zero-fare demonstration project in January 2020 after it evaluated the feasibility of fare-free transit service.
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From page 61...
... transit agencies with current zero-fare service. Providing community economic benefits was an important factor in the decision to go zero-fare, and it was championed by the mayor and city council, as well as the transit agency.
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Key Terms

  • transit agency
  • transit agencies
  • key takeaways
  • program funding
  • city council

  • fare study
  • fare collection
  • low incomes
  • policy goals
  • fare program

  • free fares
  • ridership increased
  • disruptive passengers
  • pilot program
  • transit service

  • ridership increase
  • farebox recovery
  • kansas city
  • experiencing homelessness
  • agency statistics

  • suspended fares
  • council approved
  • grant money
  • public transit
  • people experiencing

  • administrative costs
  • urban local
  • transit riders
  • city transit
  • transit ridership


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