Implementation and outcomes of fare-free transit systems
By: consultant, Joel Volinski
Contributors: National Research Council (U.S.). Transportation Research Board; Transit Cooperative Research Program; United States. Federal Transit Administration; Transit Development Corporation
Series: TCRP synthesis -- 101; TCRP synthesis -- 101.
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 96
ISBN-13: 9780309223614
Subjects: Local transit; Fares; Transportation; Federal aid to transportation; Free fares; Ridership; Transportation policy
Description: The purpose of this synthesis was to document the past and current experiences of public transit agencies that have planned, implemented, and operated fare-free transit systems. The report concentrates on public transit agencies that are either direct recipients or sub-recipients of federal transit grants and provide fare-free service to everyone in their service area on every mode they provide. The report will be of interest to transit managers and staffs, small urban and rural areas, university, and resort communities, as well as stakeholders and policy makers at all levels who would be interested in knowing the social benefits and macro impacts of providing affordable mobility through fare-free public transit. A review of the relevant literature was conducted for this effort. Reports provide statistics on changes in levels of ridership associated with fare-free service. White papers or agency reports identified by the topic panel or discovered through interviews with fare-free transit managers were also reviewed. Through topic panel input, Internet searches, listserv communications, and APTA and TRB sources, the first comprehensive listing of public transit agencies that provide fare-free service in the United States was identified. A selected survey of these identified public transit agencies yielded an 82% response rate (32/39). The report offers a look at policy and administrative issues through survey responses. Five case studies, achieved through interviews, represent the three types of communities that were found to be most likely to adopt a fare-free policy: rural and small urban, university dominated, and resort communities.
Notes: At head of title: Transit Cooperative Research Program.

"A synthesis of transit practice."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 51-52).

Also available online.

Research sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration in cooperation with the Transit Development Corporation TCRP project J-7, topic SA-26
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Literature review; title: Survey results: Public transit systems that have implemented fare-free service; title: Case studies; title: Conclusions.