MOUNTAIN METROPOLITAN TRANSIT FARE POLICY STUDY FINAL REPORT MAY 2012 MOUNTAIN METROPOLITAN TRANSIT FARE POLICY STUDY City of Colorado Springs Table of Contents Page 1 Executive Summary .........................................................................................................1-1 Project Objectives .................................................................................................................................. 1-1 Major Findings ........................................................................................................................................ 1-2 2 MMT Existing Fare Structure.............................................................................................2-1 Mountain Metro Fixed Route Service ................................................................................................. 2-1 Fare Media ............................................................................................................................................. 2-1 Passenger Type ...................................................................................................................................... 2-1 History of Fare Increases ...................................................................................................................... 2-6 Fare Collection Equipment ................................................................................................................... 2-7 3 Analysis of Ridership and Farebox Revenue Trends .......................................................3-1 Local Fixed Route Service .................................................................................................................... 3-1 Metro Mobility ...................................................................................................................................... 3-11 Summary and Conclusions .................................................................................................................. 3-14 4 Peer Review .....................................................................................................................4-1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 4-1 Overview of Transit Agencies ............................................................................................................. 4-2 Comparison of Transit Agencies ......................................................................................................... 4-4 Cash Fare Structure and Passenger Discounts................................................................................ 4-13 Express and Zonal Fares .................................................................................................................... 4-13 Transfers and Transfer Policies ......................................................................................................... 4-15 Pass Types ............................................................................................................................................. 4-18 Fare Policies .......................................................................................................................................... 4-21 Smart Cards .......................................................................................................................................... 4-27 Paratransit Operations ....................................................................................................................... 4-28 Long Distance Service Operators ..................................................................................................... 4-35 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................ 4-39 5 Stakeholder Outreach ......................................................................................................5-1 Stakeholder Interviews ......................................................................................................................... 5-1 Operators Meetings .............................................................................................................................. 5-8 6 Transit Agency Partnerships and Special Pass Arrangements .........................................6-1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 6-1 College/University Pass Programs ..................................................................................................... 6-1 Military Transit Agreements ............................................................................................................... 6-13 7 Major Findings and Conceptual Fare Alternatives ...........................................................7-1 Major Findings ........................................................................................................................................ 7-1 Preliminary Fare Concepts ................................................................................................................... 7-4 Summary and Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 7-7 8 Impacts of Recommended Fare Structure on Ridership and Revenue ..............................8-1 Recommended Fare Structure ............................................................................................................. 8-1 Impacts of Fare Structure on Ridership and Revenue ..................................................................... 8-4 Summary of Ridership and Revenue Impacts ................................................................................... 8-7 9 Smart Card Considerations ..............................................................................................9-1 Fare System Technology ....................................................................................................................... 9-1 Recommended Approach ..................................................................................................................... 9-5 Implementation Considerations ........................................................................................................... 9-5 Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates Inc. | i MOUNTAIN METROPOLITAN TRANSIT FARE POLICY STUDY City of Colorado Springs 10 Recommended Fare Strategy ........................................................................................ 10-1 Recommended Fare Structure ........................................................................................................... 10-1 Recommended Fare Policies .............................................................................................................. 10-3 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 10-6 Appendix A: Peer Review Questionnaire Appendix B: Sample Fare Policies Appendix C: Stakeholder Outreach Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates Inc. | ii MOUNTAIN METROPOLITAN TRANSIT FARE POLICY STUDY City of Colorado Springs Table of Figures Page Figure 1-1 Recommended Fare Structure - Local Service and Metro Mobility ............................ 1-5 Figure 1-2 Recommended Fare Structure – FREX (Express Service) ............................................... 1-6 Figure 1-3 FREX Fare Structure - Proposed Unlimited Monthly Pass .............................................. 1-7 Figure 1-4 Summary of Fare Structure and Fare Policy Recommendations .................................. 1-7 Figure 2-1 Existing Fare Structure ......................................................................................................... 2-2 Figure 2-2 FREX Existing Fare Structure ............................................................................................... 2-4 Figure 2-3 Metro Mobility Existing Fare Structure ............................................................................. 2-5 Figure 2-4 MMT’s Fare History .............................................................................................................. 2-6 Figure 2-5 MMT’s Fare Structure Comparison 2008 - 2009 ........................................................... 2-7 Figure 3-1 MMT Local Fixed Route Service Financial and Operating Statistics .......................... 3-2 Figure 3-2 Average Fare Per Passenger (Local Fixed Route Service) ........................................... 3-2 Figure 3-3 Farebox Recovery Ratio (Local Fixed Route Service) ................................................... 3-3 Figure 3-4 Subsidy Per Passenger (Local Fixed Route Service) ...................................................... 3-3 Figure 3-5 MMT Fare Revenue (Dollar and Percentage) for Cash and Tickets ........................... 3-4 Figure 3-6 MMT Local Annual Ticket Sales .......................................................................................... 3-4 Figure 3-7 Percentage of Local MMT Tickets Sold by Fare Media (2011) .................................. 3-5 Figure 3-8 Method of Payment – Onboard Survey Results 2008 and 2010 .............................. 3-5 Figure 3-9 FREX Financial and Operating Statistics 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