Free Fare Program
What is the Free Fare Program?
• Access customers may ride participating fixed-route bus and rail for FREE in L.A. County.
• Automatically available to all eligible Access riders. Rider presents their Access TAP card as fare when boarding the bus or rail.
• Participation in Free Fare program does not affect a rider’s current eligibility for Access. Free Fare Program Facts
• Free Fare Program began in FY 2001- 2002 with one Free Fare Partner and approximately 732 passenger boardings reported
• As of FY 2010-2011 Access has 22 Free Fare Partners with more than 2.5 million trips shifted from ADA paratransit to fixed route
• Of the 22 Free Fare Partners Access reimburses 14 agencies. The other nine agencies do not ask for reimbursement
FREE FARE PROGRAM PARTNERS
Reimbursed No Charge to Access
Antelope Valley Transit Carson Transit Authority Downey Link Beach Cities Glendale Beeline Culver City Monterey Park El Monte Foothill Transit Metro Huntington Park COMBI Palos Verdes Peninsula LADOT Dash and Transit Authority Commuter Express Santa Clarita Transit Long Beach Transit* West Hollywood Transit Montebello Bus Lines Metrolink Norwalk Pasadena ARTS Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Torrance Transit Passenger Boardings FY 2001 through FY 2011 Amount reimbursed to Free Fare Partners Free Fare Program has saved the region approximately $220 million between FY 2001 through FY 2011. Per Trip Costs: Free Fare versus Paratransit Free Fare Costs vs. ADA Paratransit Trip Comparison
Free Fare Amount Charged to Access Actual Cost if no Free Fare program
$67m
$48m $42m
$35m $35m
$2.7m $691,907 $806,000 $1.2m1 $1.4m9
2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 Free Fare Partner Facts
Highest Usage of Free Fare Program:
• Metrolink • Montebello Transit • L.A. DOT • Culver City Bus Lines • Antelope Valley Transit Authority Metrolink Lines
Antelope Valley Inland Empire Orange County Riverside San Bernadino Ventura County 91 Line
Metrolink Lines Passenger & Cost Comparison LADOT – DASH/Commuter Lines Passenger & Cost Comparison
Montebello Bus Lines Passenger & Cost Comparison
Culver City Bus Lines Passenger & Cost Comparison
Antelope Valley Transit Passenger & Cost Comparison
Access Ridership Growth compared to New Certified Riders – FY 2006-2007 through FY 2010-2011 Access Ridership Growth compared to New Certified Riders – FY 2001-2002 through FY 2010-2011 Free Fare Program Audit Scope
• Review data collection procedures of selected transit agencies and determine if their methodology in reporting Access Free Fare passengers is accurate
• Agencies reviewed include: - Montebello Bus Lines - Culver City Bus - L.A. DOT - Metrolink
• Desk/Trip Audits; Ride Checks and Interviews with agency staff
Free Fare Program Audit Findings
• Agency’s data processing and invoicing procedures support the Free Fare Program invoices submitted to Access Services.
• New fareboxes on LADOT vehicles will improve accuracy of data collection efforts.
• Person with disabilities account for 1% to 5% of boardings
Free Fare Program Audit Findings
Free Fare Program Monthly Boardings
6.00%
5.00%
4.00%
3.00%
2.00%
1.00%
0.00% DASH 1 DASH 2 DASH 3 DASH 4 DASH 5a DASH 5b DASH 6 Montebello Culver Metrolink AVERAGE Citybus Invoice TAP Card - & Free Fare
New Access ID Card - TAP
Old Access ID Card Questions