Since a loss of farebox revenue could result in service cuts or serious financial challenges, agencies are examining alternative fare policies, such as fare-capping.įor several years, zero-fare transit has been a topic of interest among public transportation agencies.
Because switching to zero-fare transit will impact agencies differently, it is important to examine organizational capabilities ahead of time and listen to community input. Eliminating fare collection can result in advantages related to cost, system efficiency, access, and operations.Those initial motivations remain instrumental, but in the Covid-19 context, zero-fare also allowed agencies to ensure safety and security for operators and riders. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the zero-fare approach arose as a way to improve the quality of life of public transit users.Zero-fare transit continues to be under consideration as agencies assess how to best meet their agency and users’ needs.
