Reduced fare program
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A reduced fare program refers to special programs providing particular passengers with a discounted fare option for travel on a
public transport Public transport (also known as public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) are forms of transport available to the general public. It typically uses a fixed schedule, route and charges a fixed fare. There is no rigid definition of whic ...
system. In the United States, public transportation systems that receive federal funding are required to offer, at minimum, half fares to the elderly and handicapped persons during off peak travel. Some transportation systems also extend reduced fare options to youth, students, military personnel, and low-income passengers.


Purpose

Adequate mobility is essential for individuals to participate in society as citizens, employees, students, and consumers and affects one's ability to secure employment, education, medical services, and to reach other needed destinations. Reduced fares decrease the burden of transportation expenditures.


Individuals with disabilities and senior citizens


United States

In the United States, public transportation systems that receive federal funding are required to offer, at minimum, half fares to the older adults and people with disabilities during off-peak travel. To define an older adult, they must be 65 years of age or over but the transit authority may be more inclusive in its application. A person with a disability is defined as an individual who by reasons of illness, injury, age, congenital malfunction, or other permanent or temporary incapacity or disability, including those who use those with semi-ambulatory capabilities, are unable without special facilities or special planning or design to utilize mass transportation facilities and services as effectively as persons who are not so affected. More than one in five Americans 65 years and older do not drive because of limited physical or mental abilities, poor health, concerns about safety, or lack of access to a car. When compared with elderly drivers, non-drivers take 15 percent fewer trips to the doctor, 59 percent fewer trips to shops and restaurants, and 65 percent fewer trips for family, social, and religious activities. When public transportation is available, older Americans make regular use of it. Public transportation trips by older Americans (65 years and older) make up 6.7% of all trips, a total of over 600 million trips in 2007. In the United States, the number of older people is projected to rapidly grow, due to the aging of the
Baby Boomer Baby boomers, often shortened to boomers, are the demographic cohort preceded by the Silent Generation and followed by Generation X. The generation is often defined as people born from 1946 to 1964 during the mid-20th century baby boom that ...
generation. The 65-74 age group is expected to grow 51% by 2020. As such, the number of passengers eligible for reduced fares will increase, as will the cost of providing reduced fares. However, reduced fares for riders with disabilities can reduce use of
paratransit Paratransit (also community transport in the United Kingdom, or intermediate public transport) is a type of public transport service that supplements fixed-route mass transit by providing individualized rides without fixed routes or timetables. P ...
which is a more expensive service to provide, so it could save money for both the rider and the transit system. The
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA ), commonly referred to as Metro, is a tri-jurisdictional public transit agency that operates transit services in the Washington metropolitan area. WMATA provides rapid transit servic ...
has gone so far to encourage paratransit users to use bus and rail (if they can) as to allow holders of authorization cards for its
MetroAccess MetroAccess is a shared-ride public transportation service for individuals in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area who are unable to use fixed-route public transit due to disability. It is managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authori ...
paratransit service to ride bus and train, not at half price, but for free.


United Kingdom

The
English National Concessionary Travel Scheme The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme is a national scheme by the Department for Transport in conjunction with local authorities across England. The scheme extended the provision of free bus travel within individual local authorities ...
provides free off-peak local bus travel to older and disabled persons resident in England. Local government authorities have discretion to extend the scheme to other forms of transport for their residents. In
Greater London Greater London is an administrative area in England, coterminous with the London region, containing most of the continuous urban area of London. It contains 33 local government districts: the 32 London boroughs, which form a Ceremonial count ...
the Freedom Pass provides free off-peak travel by bus, rail and the
London Underground The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or as the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent home counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in England. The Undergro ...
to residents of Greater London. In Scotland the Scottish National Entitlement Card provides older and disabled persons resident in Scotland with free travel on buses and long-distance coaches within Scotland. In Wales a similar scheme provides free off-peak bus travel in Wales to older and disabled persons resident in Wales.


New Zealand (Aotearoa)

SuperGold Cards give free off-peak travel on most local public transport for those over 65. People with impairments have discounts on all public transport of 50% in
Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...
, 40% in
Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...
, 33% in
New Plymouth New Plymouth () is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, in Devon, from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. The New Pl ...
and 10% in
Dunedin Dunedin ( ; ) is the second-most populous city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from ("fort of Edin"), the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of S ...
10%, with
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planning 100% in 2019. Throughout the country, the Total Mobility Scheme subsidises taxis for people with impairments.


Students

Many
student A student is a person enrolled in a school or other educational institution, or more generally, a person who takes a special interest in a subject. In the United Kingdom and most The Commonwealth, commonwealth countries, a "student" attends ...
s in urban areas also depend on public transportation to get to and from school. The
American Public Transportation Association The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit group of approximately 1,500 public and private sector member organizations that promotes and advocates for the interests of the public transportation industry in the United ...
found that trips to school, including elementary, secondary and higher education, account for over 10% of all trips, the second largest source after trips to work which account for 59% of trips. A joint report by Harvard University's Civil Rights Project and the Center for Community Change found evidence that lack of access to transportation may mean having to miss school. For example, high school students in
Oakland Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major West Coast port, Oakland is ...
and
El Cerrito, California El Cerrito (Spanish language, Spanish for "The Little Hill") is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, and forms part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It has a population of 25,962 according to the 2020 United States census, 2 ...
, testified that they needed free transit passes because their families sometimes had to choose between food and transit fare. Most major transit systems in the United States offer discounted fares and passes to elementary and secondary students like
Washington Metro The Washington Metro, often abbreviated as the Metro and formally the Metrorail, is a rapid transit system serving the Washington metropolitan area of the United States. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ...
, the CTA, LA Metro, New York MTA, and the Massachusetts
MBTA The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (abbreviated MBTA and known colloquially as "the T") is the public agency responsible for operating most public transportation services in Greater Boston, Massachusetts. The MBTA transit network in ...
. Some restrict travel to certain hours on school days, while others do not. A few also offer discounted fares to college and graduate students, e.g., the LA Metro. Some universities have implemented U-Pass programs that provide students unlimited access to local transit.


Low-income riders


Canada


Banff, Alberta

The town of Banff offers its low-income residents a free monthly transit pass for the
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local transit service ''within'' the town. The town also offers its low-income residents a discount of 50% off individual return trip passes and a 10-ride pass for the Roam regional transit service to the nearby town of Canmore.


Calgary, Alberta

Calgary Transit Calgary Transit is the public transit agency which is owned and operated by the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 2019, an estimated 106.5 million passengers boarded approximately 1,155 Calgary Transit vehicles. It operates light metro (LRT), ...
offers its low-income clients a monthly transit pass for $44 instead of the regular price of $99. Applicants must be Calgary residents.


Edmonton, Alberta

Edmonton Transit System offers its clients that are on AISH a monthly transit pass for $34. There has also been discussion of expanding the program to cover all low-income residents as well.


Grande Prairie, Alberta

The city of
Grande Prairie Grande Prairie is a city in Northern Alberta, northwestern Alberta, Canada, within the southern portion of an area known as Peace River Country. It is located at the intersection of Alberta Highway 43, Highway 43 (part of the CANAMEX Corridor) ...
offers its low-income residents a free monthly transit pass.


St. Albert, Alberta

The city of St. Albert offers its clients that are on AISH a monthly transit pass for 36% of the cost of a regular pass. The pass is valid on St. Albert Transit service in St. Albert and Edmonton.


Strathcona County, Alberta

Strathcona County Transit Strathcona County Transit provides local, commuter, and school bus services to the community of Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, which is east of Edmonton in Strathcona County. Transportation for elderly citizens and people with disabilities is pr ...
offers its low-income residents a discounted transit pass.


United Kingdom


London

Transport for London Transport for London (TfL) is a local government body responsible for most of the transport network in London, United Kingdom. TfL is the successor organization of the London Passenger Transport Board, which was established in 1933, and His ...
offers a special
Oyster card The Oyster card is a Payment#Types_and_methods_of_payment, payment method for public transport in London and some surrounding areas. A standard Oyster card is a blue ISO/IEC 7810, credit-card-sized Stored-value card, stored-value contactless ...
for London residents already receiving some form of financial aid for discounted travel on buses and tram. There is no discount on fares for travel on the Tube, DLR, London Overground, or National Rail.


United States

After housing, transportation costs, are the second-biggest budget item for most families in the United States. In 2012, households that fall in the lowest fifth in household incomes spend 56% of their income on housing and transportation whereas households that fall in the highest fifth spend 46% of their income. In addition, driving may not be an option for everyone. According to AAA, the average annual cost of owning a car is $10,183. Thirty-three percent of low-income African Americans, 25 percent of low-income Latinos, and 12.1 percent of low-income Caucasians lack automobile access. The Victoria Transport Policy Institute argues that unaffordable transportation can reduce economic
productivity Productivity is the efficiency of production of goods or services expressed by some measure. Measurements of productivity are often expressed as a ratio of an aggregate output to a single input or an aggregate input used in a production proce ...
. Access to adequate and affordable transportation provides access to schools and jobs, increasing productivity and the opportunity for
economic mobility Economic mobility is the ability of an individual, family or some other group to improve (or lower) their economic status—usually measured in income. Economic mobility is often measured by movement between income quintiles. Economic mobilit ...
.


Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota

Metro Transit offers reduced fares to lower-income passengers through the Transit Assistance Program (TAP). TAP fares cost one dollar per ride and include a -hour transfer, even during Rush Hour and on Express buses. To qualify, individuals must meet the low-income guidelines based on 50% Area Median Income or 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Individuals who qualify will then be issued the pass on a Go-To card which offers the reduced fare for one year.


Tucson, Arizona

Sun Tran offers reduced fares to low-income passengers ages 5 and over through its Economy Pass Program. Economy fares cost about a third of the regular fares. To qualify, individuals must be a
Pima County Pima County ( ) is a County (United States), county in the south central region of the U.S. state of Arizona, one of 15 List of counties in Arizona, counties in the state. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 1 ...
resident and meet the low-income guidelines based on the U.S. Department of Labor's Lower Living Standard Income Level. Individuals who qualify will then be issued a SunGO ID & Card which includes a color photo and is renewed annually.


Northeastern Illinois

In September 2011, the
Regional Transportation Authority (Illinois) The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is the financial and Regulation, oversight body for the three Mass transit, transit agencies in northeastern Illinois; the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace (transit), Pace, which are cal ...
(RTA) launched free fare cards for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities for travel on the region's three transportation systems: the
Chicago Transit Authority The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is the operator of public transport, mass transit in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and some of its suburbs, including the trains of the Chicago "L" and List of Chicago Transit Authority bus routes, CTA bu ...
,
Metra Metra is the primary commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, and other railroads. The system operates 243 train station, stati ...
, and Pace. Previously, all seniors received free fares but due to the high cost of the program, now only low-income seniors and low-income individuals with disabilities enrolled in the Illinois Department on Aging's Benefit Access Program are eligible for free fares. An individual has to be a resident of Illinois and fall under specific household income thresholds to be eligible for the Benefit Access Program. Once enrolled in the Benefit Access program, the individual must then apply for the Ride Free program through the RTA. Enrolled individuals are given a Ride Free permit which includes a color photo of the individual and requires renewal annually to prevent fraud.


Iowa City, Iowa

Iowa City Transit offers free travel during off-peak hours and discounted monthly passes (15% less than a full fare monthly pass) for qualified low-income riders. To qualify, individuals must be a resident of
Iowa City Iowa City is the largest city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. At the time of the 2020 census the population was 74,828, making it the state's fifth-most populous city. The Iowa City metropolitan area, which enc ...
and already receive a form of state or federal aid.


Ann Arbor, Michigan

TheRide in Ann Arbor, Michigan, offers a Fare Deal Card for low-income residents, senior citizens, and people with disabilities to ride for a reduced fare. Reduced fares are half the cost of regular fares. Individuals apply and demonstrate eligibility by showing a
Medicaid Medicaid is a government program in the United States that provides health insurance for adults and children with limited income and resources. The program is partially funded and primarily managed by U.S. state, state governments, which also h ...
card or through a third-party authorizing agency.


Washington

Kitsap Transit offers reduced fare cards to low-income individuals already receiving some form of state or federal aid. Reduced fares are half the cost of the full fare. The Clark County Public Transit Benefit Area Authority (C-TRAN) offers low income fares to residents who are already receiving a form of state-aid. The individual must bring a state-issued award letter and government-issued ID to the C-TRAN Passenger Service office where, if eligible, they'll be given a discounted fare C-TRAN ID card. The discount applies to monthly passes only which cost half the price of full fare passes. As of January 2014, King County Council is considering a fare change proposal which includes a reduced fare option for qualifying low-income riders. If approved, the changes would be implemented in March 2015.


Madison, Wisconsin

In 2009, Metro Transit in Madison, Wisconsin launched a yearlong pilot study on low-income monthly passes after concerns were raised regarding the transit system's fare increase's impact on low-income riders. A year later, the program was deemed a success and the program committee recommended that the City of Madison continue to fund the program. Passes are sold on the 15th of each month on a first come, first served basis. In March 2013, Madison's Common Council approved additional funding to the program, allowing Metro Transit to provide 450 discounted passes each month, a 50% increase from the original 300 passes. To be eligible, passengers must fill out a self-certification form that their income is at or below 150% of the national poverty line. Advocates for reduced fare programs have said the use of self-certification rather than requiring proof of eligibility, results in administrative savings and is accessible and dignified.


References


External links


Ensuring Equity in Service and Fare Changes



Joblinks: How Transportation Providers are Making Affordable Transportation a Worker SupportWhere We Need to Go: A Civil Rights Roadmap for Transportation Equity
{{public transport Public transport fare collection