Considering Fare-Free Transit in the Context of Research on Transit Service and Pricing: A Research Synthesis

King, Hannah; Taylor, Brian D.

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Considering Fare-Free Transit in the Context of Research on Transit Service and Pricing: A Research Synthesis

2023-01-01
By King, Hannah ; Taylor, Brian D.

File Language:

English

Details

Creators:

King, Hannah ; Taylor, Brian D.
Corporate Creators:

University of California, Los Angeles. Institute of Transportation Studies
Corporate Contributors:

State of California
Subject/TRT Terms:
Publication/ Report Number:

UC-ITS-2022-08
Resource Type:

Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:

California;United States
Edition:

July 2021 – December 2022
Corporate Publisher:

University of California Institute of Transportation Studies
Abstract:

In this report, we examine both the substantial research literature on transit pricing and use and literature on free- and reduced fare (FAR) programs. In general, we find that FAR programs can take many forms, and the idea of “fare-free” transit is far from a one-size-fits-all proposition. Second, while reducing or eliminating fares does indeed increase ridership, all else equal, transit research has consistently found that riders tend to be more service elastic than fare elastic. In other words, they tend to respond more to service improvements than price reductions, which means that, at the margin, money “spent” on fare-free programs (in the form of foregone revenues) may attract fewer riders than if that money were put toward improving service. And third, the social equity dimensions of fare-free transit are many, ranging from considering the share of fare-free benefits that flow to higher-income riders to the potential racial equity benefits of reduced fare enforcement policing on transit.
Format:

PDF
Funding:

UC-ITS-2022-08
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/67223/dot_67223_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 1009.92 KB]
Collection(s):

US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:d886db0a59af7ebd61ee6938be595efaf98a04a8f4b7f54b6b287fee3a050aba4736b6974010dd6ba5b5075838fd1b12f23fc26edb02dd8eb8ab1f6de93235ef

File Language:

English

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