Fare Free Future, a Vision for a Simpler and More Equitable
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Fare Free Future Humphrey School Capstone Report The Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs The University of Minnesota Dillon Cummins Caroline Ketcham Erika Shepard Jed Hanson PA 8081 Capstone Workshop Transportation Planning and Policy Instructor: Lyssa Leitner, Adjunct Faculty Spring 2021 Partner Organization: Metro Transit Fare Free Future A VISION FOR A SIMPLER AND MORE EQUITABLE REGIONAL FARE SYSTEM A CAPSTONE PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH METRO TRANSIT DILLON CUMMINS, CAROLINE KETCHAM, ERIKA SHEPARD, AND JED HANSON MAY 5, 2021 Table of Contents Acknowledgements .........................................................................4 1. Executive Summary .....................................................................5 2. Introduction .................................................................................6 2.1 Planning a Simpler Fare System .................................................6 2.2 Who Rides Transit? ........................................................................6 2.3 Permanent Reduction in Commuters .........................................7 2.4 Focus on All-Purpose Riders ........................................................8 2.5 Report Overview .............................................................................8 3. Vision .........................................................................................10 3.1 Near-Term Vision ..........................................................................10 3.2 Medium-Term Vision ...................................................................12 3.3 Long-Term Vision .........................................................................12 4. Existing Conditions ....................................................................14 4.1 Metro Transit Fares ......................................................................14 4.2 Metro Mobility ...............................................................................17 4.3 Demographics ...............................................................................17 4.4 Budget ............................................................................................18 2 Table of Contents 5. Peer Examples ...........................................................................19 5.1 Indianapolis ...................................................................................19 5.2 Portland ..........................................................................................19 5.3 Washington, D.C. ..........................................................................20 5.4 Kansas City ....................................................................................21 5.5 Los Angeles ...................................................................................22 6. Recommendations ....................................................................24 6.1 Near-Term Recommendations ..................................................24 6.2 Medium-Term Recommendations ............................................28 6.3 Long-Term Recommendations ..................................................30 7. Conclusion .................................................................................36 7.1 A Roadmap for the Future ..........................................................36 7.2 What to Explore Further ..............................................................37 7.3 Parting Thoughts .........................................................................37 Appendices ....................................................................................38 Appendix A: Literature Review ..........................................................38 Appendix B: Civil Rights and Accessibility Compliance ...............42 Appendix C: Cost Estimates ..............................................................43 References ....................................................................................45 Table of Contents 3 Acknowledgements This report was made possible thanks to the knowledge and assistance of transit profes- sionals, researchers, and stakeholders in the Twin Cities and across the nation. The authors are thankful for the contributions of the following agencies, organizations, and their employees or members. • IndyGo • Maple Grove Transit • Metro Transit • Metropolitan Council • Minnesota Department of Transportation • Move Minneapolis • TriMet • Twin Cities Transit Riders Union • University of Minnesota • Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority The range of contributions include sharing through interviews, providing data, establishing key stakeholders, and identifying literature and reference material. This report is shared and adaptable under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. An empty light rail vehicle with advisory COVID-19 signage. Image source: Metro Transit. 4 Acknowledgements 1. Executive Summary The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered Metro Transit’s revenue system, likely with lasting change to transit ridership. This disruption is an opportunity to evaluate Metro Transit’s fare system. This report provides recommendations to reach a vision for a simplified and more equi- table fare system. These recommendations are developed from background information on Metro Transit and its riders, documentation of existing conditions, review of relevant literature, and interviews with stakeholders and subject matter experts. Recommendations focus on the conceptual level and center all-purpose riders. Recommendations vary in their complexity and impact. Metro Transit can effectively simplify the current system just by paring down its sheer number of fare offerings. Beyond simplifica- tion, Metro Transit may improve ridership and mobility through simplified pass and needs- based programs combined with heightened enrollment efforts. In the medium-term, a fare capping policy may achieve much of these recommendations across rider groups. Finally, this report recommends eliminating fares. A fare-free transit system best achieves the stated goals of this report: a simpler rider experience, revenue stability and growth, and improved mobility for all-purpose riders. Metro Transit continues Transit Assistance Program outreach events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Image Source: Metro Transit. 1. Executive Summary 5 2. Introduction 2.1 Planning a Simpler Fare it also presents an opportunity to rethink fare structure to make Metro Transit services more System financially accessible. Barriers to accessing transportation and other needs have expanded under the COVID-19 2.2 Who Rides Transit? pandemic. The pandemic prompts evaluation of Metro Transit’s fare system. Peer transit agen- Transit professionals often default to catego- cies are experimenting with their fare systems, rizing riders as: ranging from fare simplification to free fares. • “dependent” riders, who rely on the transit system for fundamental mobility The pandemic created immediate impacts in needs, and lost revenue, both from dramatic decreases in • “choice” riders, with multiple mobility ridership and loss of other funding. It may lead options, which transit agencies must to long-term changes in travel behavior. The competitively capture from other trans- pandemic has exacerbated existing income and portation modes. racial disparities, which intersect with transit ridership. The confluence of factors opens This is not an accurate way to frame who is on an opportunity for creative strategies for fare board and why they are riding. This report will changes. discuss transit ridership in three groups defined by TransitCenter, a New York City based transit Evaluation of Metro Transit’s existing fare system think-tank. will identify successes and areas of improve- ment, so Metro Transit may better respond to 2.2.1 All-Purpose Riders the travel behavior and income changes brought on by the pandemic. This report provides anal- All-purpose riders regularly use transit beyond ysis and recommendations related to: work trips. They ride to all types of destinations, ranging from groceries to movies. Within all-pur- • fare simplification, pose riders there are two groups: contented and • low-income and needs-based fares, and discontented riders. Contented riders prefer • exploration of free fare systems. transit to driving or do not plan to buy a vehicle. Discontented riders would drive if they had The recommendations from this project will access to a car. All-purpose riders are generally help Metro Transit build back lost revenue and the largest group of transit riders.1 mitigate some of the challenges disproportion- ately felt by transit riders. 2.2.2 Commuters Commuters use transit for work trips. One of Metro Transit’s guiding principles is inno- Commuters ride for reasons ranging from vation, which encourages employees to think affordability to avoiding traffic. Commuters creatively and challenge the status quo. The pandemic has led to immense challenges, but 1. Higashide and Accuardi, “Who’s On Board 2016,” 28–29. 6 2. Introduction rarely or never take transit to other destinations. Metropass creates a set-and-forget experience This is generally the second largest group of for commuters, since many pay for Metropass transit riders.2 through automatic payroll deductions. This in-turn creates a stable source of fare revenue 2.2.3 Occasional Riders for Metro Transit. Occasional riders take transit for situational reasons. They may ride when a vehicle is being The COVID-19 pandemic introduced new repaired, to attend a sports event or a concert,