Evaluating Transit Operations for Individuals with Disabilities Final Report (1997) / Chapter Skim
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CHAPTER VI FARE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
CHAPTER VI FARE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
Pages 201-272
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From page 201... ...
More typically, it might mean offering free fare on fixed route service as part of a special promotion or on an ongoing basis. Defined more broadly, "fare Incentives" refer not only to Be level of fare on one mode but to the relationship of fares on ah mocles.
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From page 202... ...
Savings in Ann Arbor and Austin were perhaps Me greatest as a percent of total system budgets, totaling close to $207,000 per year in Ann Arbor and over $1,500,000 in Austin. Offering free fares can encourage riders to shift some of Weir trips to Me fixed route service.
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From page 203... ...
This impact can also be controlled by limited free fare marketing to current paratransit riders or by offering free fares to a broader population. CASE STUDY SITES From the list of transit systems known to be using fare incentives to promote fixed route travel, five were selected for detailed evaluation.
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From page 204... ...
Following is a brief description of each systems' fare incentive program and information about over related efforts to encourage use of fixed route services Greater Bridgeport Transit District The Greater Bridgeport Transit District (GBTD) provides faced route and paratransit services to the corn unities of Bridgeport, Fairfield, Stratford, and TurnbuD.
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From page 205... ...
Buses Ridership Ridership Ann Arbor Transportation Authority | 189,000 | 57 T 3,80 ) ,0003 ~154,6183 ~ Capi~Me~o Transit Authority 1 550,600 1 300 1 19,13i,6~ 1 462,0002 [ Greater Bridgeport Transit District 276,500 53 5,029,751 ~112,563i Metro Dade Transit Agency ~ 1,735,000 ~629 ~81,68',1001 ~765,0002 Tulsa Transit 362,000 79 2,773,4722 208,8892 ~ FY1994 data 2 FY1995 data 3 FY1996 data TCRP B-lA VI-5 Draft Final Report
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From page 206... ...
GBTD has been able to provide a high quality, cost-effective paratransit service that has met most of the ADA paratransit service criteria since its inception In 1979. The service has always been In compliance with the service area, fare, and trip purpose criteria of the ADA.
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From page 207... ...
In a further effort to promote fixed route use, the fares for paratransit service were increased from $.50 per trip to $~.00 per Hip as part of a system-wide fare revision. The increase In paratransit fares was made effective the same time as the free fare program was introduced.
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From page 208... ...
May 1,1993 ~May 1,1993 ~ ~, Full fixed-route fare | $.75 1 $.85 ConnDOT half fare on fKed-route $.35 $.40 . Fixed-route fare for persons determined ADA paratransit .
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From page 209... ...
3 For more detailed information about travel training programs developed by the Kennedy Center and Me GBTD, see The Kennedy Center, Inc., People Accessing Community Transit (PA CTJ, Project ACTION/NIAT, Washington, D.C., undated. TCRP B-1A VI-9 Draft Final Report
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From page 210... ...
Marketing efforts have also been used to promote fixed route use by persons with disabilities. Instead of separate, targeted marketing, Capital Metro has ~ntegratecl riclers with disabilities into their TV spots, brochures, etc.
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From page 211... ...
. Uncler the agreement, Capital Metro also provides complementary tickets for trainers for the fixed route service, and trains trainers about the fixecE route system (routes, schedules, policies, etc.~.
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From page 212... ...
With the unplementation of ADA paratransit service In January of 1992, Me age qualifier was dropped. The paratransit service is operated in-house with a mix; of vans and sedans.
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From page 213... ...
While free fares for Me general public were eliminated, Key decided to continue to offer free fixed route service to seniors (65+) , persons with mobility impairments ("MI riders")
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From page 214... ...
, persons with mobility impairments, and persons win STS cards "Dillos" (downtown trolleys) Free STS Paratransit Service 60 cents.
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From page 215... ...
A photo ID card has always been issuer} for LIFT service (so this was not an addecI expense when the free fare program was ~nboduced)
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From page 216... ...
Tulsa Transit has provided free fixed route service to persons who are paratransit eligible since June of 1991. The free fare program was originally intended to encourage use of newly purchased accessible buses and was continued due to its success.
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From page 217... ...
To encourage fixed route use, Tulsa Transit has also aDowed PCAs who accompany riciers with disabilities (either half fare or free fare riclers) to ride free of charge.
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From page 218... ...
. _ 75 cents 4/15/94 to present 35 cents for seniors and riflers $1.50 for all trips with disabilities Free for LIFI riders TCRP B-1A VI-~S Draft Final Report
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From page 219... ...
This program made monthly Metropasses available to Medicaid eligible STS riders who used Me paratransit service at least three times per month and were wiring to give up their right to use paratransit service In return for the fixed route passes. A similar program, called the "STS Options Program," was started In October of 1994.
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From page 220... ...
As noted below, the MDTA analysis has shown the program to be a success in helping to reduce paratransit demand and to encourage use of fixed route services by persons with disabilities. MDTA is Ming to determine how to extend the program to more recent registered riders without encouraging persons to apply for ADA paratransit eligibility solely for the free fares and without encouraging a shift from half-fares to free TCRP B-1A VI-20 Draft Final Report
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From page 221... ...
Metrorail $1.25 full fare same same with free fare same 60 cent half fare for STS ..
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From page 222... ...
Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, Ann Arbor, Michigan The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) operates fixed route bus and paratransit service In the communities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan and In surrounding areas.
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From page 223... ...
As part of a study funded by Project ACTION, the AATA conducted a free fare and marketing demonstration program In August of 1995. Free fixed route service was provided for the month to A-Ride customers.
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From page 224... ...
Fixed Route Service Base adult fare = $0.75 $0.35 half fare A-Ride Parabansit Service $1.50 TCRP B-lA VI-24 Draft Final Report
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From page 225... ...
Start-Up and Ongoing Administrative Costs Information about the cost of ~mplemendng free fare programs was obtained from all of the sites studied except Ann Arbor, Michigan. All reported that developing and implementing a fare incentive program was a relatively low-cost undertaking.
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From page 226... ...
Information about free fares were simply included in ongoing marketing materials such as system maps, brochures, and schedules. A second possible cost that might typically be incurred in the Implementation of a fare incentive program would be the issuance of photo IDs to eligible riders.
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From page 227... ...
Also, seniors ride free, so there would be no need for them to get an STS card. In Miami, because the MDTA limitecI eligibility for free fares to persons eligible prior to November, there appears to have been no impact on requests for ADA paratransit eligibility.
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From page 228... ...
Use of the Free Fare Option and Impacts on Axe d-Route Fare Revenue Bridgeport An exact count of fixed route passengers by type of fare was kept by the GBTD as part of their standard recordkeeping process. The graph presented as Figure VI-1 shows Me number of free fare and half fare trips recorded from January of 1993 Trough May of 1994.
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From page 229... ...
70,000 60,~ 50,0 40,~ 30,000 20,0~ 10,~0 D legume VI-1. naH>Pare and Ilee-Eare Riderstip Vanuatu 1993 - Sian 199~ ~_~ ~ FREEWARE Rat Jag ~MAR ~Jag Jag ^uG Sap ~Nor Den Jag 93 GONER _ + ~ FOB ~R ~R ~ TT]
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From page 230... ...
The shift from half-fare to free fare hips suggests that many of the persons who had State-issued half fare cards were also ADA paratransit eligible. The increase in new ADA paratransit applications, noted in the previous section, also suggests that many half-fare cardholders also began applying for ADA paratransit eligibility as a result of Me fare Incentive program.
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From page 231... ...
Before systemwide free fares, between 15,000 and 1S,000 half fare rides were made by persons determined MI. By the spring of 1991, this had grown to TCRP B-IA VI-31 Draft Final Report
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From page 232... ...
Riders- O Seniors ~ Total l TCRP B-1A VI-32 Draft Final Report
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From page 233... ...
Assuming that about 16,500 half fare rides were provided to MI riders prior to the introduction of free fares and that the current half fare is $.25, it could be estimated that there is a loss of about $4,125 per month in revenues due to the continuation of free fares for persons with disabilities. The current, greater number of rides by persons determined MI should not be used to estimate fare loss, since these rides may not have been made if the free service were not introduced.
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From page 234... ...
During 1990, the systemwide free fare demonstration was probably a major factor In the growth In lift board~ngs. Since 1991, several efforts have encouraged this impressive use by persons with mobility aicis.
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From page 235... ...
Rides · Litt Boardings TCRP B-1A VI-35 Draft Final Report
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From page 236... ...
Figure VIM. Free Fare and Half Fare Rides in Miami, October, 1994 - April, 1996 1,200,000 1,000,000 ._ s ~ =,= ._ car LL l_ I 600,000 400,000 200,000 ~ ~ _ ~.~' " / , 16,000 14,000 12,000 .= ~_ - 6,000 - 4,000 - 10,000 ~ ._ 8 000 of , ~ - 2,000 O- 1 ~ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ~ 1 1 -to O Z ~ co ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A: CO O Z ~ CD ~ ~ ~ N~J Year + Free Fares Half Fares| | TCRP B-lA VI-36 Draft Final Report
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From page 237... ...
certainly kept any non-ADA paratransit eligible persons from switching from the half fare to the free fare program. It is possible, though, that some existing paratransit riders also used the half fare program and switched their half-fare rides to free fares when the program was introduced.
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From page 238... ...
~ I I i~__) MonthslYears ~ Free Fare Rides EB Half Fare Ride~ TCRP B-lA VI-38 Draft FinaZ Report
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From page 239... ...
Prior to the free fare program, there were approximately 8-9,000 half fare rides per month. ~ March of 1996, there were 8,755 half fare rides.
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From page 240... ...
120,000 1 00,000 80,000 Q ._ 60,000 40,000 20,000 o 1 1 29563 1 03,554 55,80 1991 1 992 Year 1 993 1994 TCRP B-1A VI40 Draft Final Report
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From page 241... ...
and I Gaffney, ADA Paratransit Handbook, USDOT, TCRP B-1A VIES Draft Final Report
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From page 242... ...
GBTD Paratransit Ridership (July' 1992 - May, 1994) 1 2 ,0 0 0 1 0,000 8 , 0 0 0 Q I 6, 0 0 0 Cl By 4 , 0 0 0 2 , 0 0 0 o ;~ on U' z 1 992 i_' Washington, D.C.' Report #UMTA-MA-06-0206-91-1, September, 1991 .
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From page 243... ...
Results of a survey of the fun 3,500 registered parairansit riders in Bridgeport suggested an even larger impact of the free fare program. Of the 1,344 people who completed the survey, 94 indicated that there were trips hey made on the fixed route service Mat used to be macle by paratrans*
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From page 244... ...
impacts of paratransit fare increases at the other case study sites (see later discussion of impacts In Miami. Austin Although not as dramatic as the recluction In me growth of paratransit ridership in Bridgeport, it appears that the free fare program, together with other service enhancements and efforts, has also been successful In providing fixed route travel options anct limiting reliance on the paratransit service.
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From page 245... ...
_ _ _ _ _ _^ ____ _ _, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ g__~___ - 7~ ~ - - ~ - - - - _ _ _ _ _ _ I ~ ____ _ | ~ STS Rides ~ M.l. Rides | TCRP B-1A VIAL Draft Final Report
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From page 246... ...
1988 306,492 _ 1989 346,735 13.1 1990 390,288 12.6 1991 411 231 5.4 , 1992 413,797 - 0.6 1993 412,851 (1 5) 1994 430,674 4.3 1995 462,019 7.3 _ TCRP B-1A VIED D rap Final Report
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From page 247... ...
would suggest that about 8,900 trips per month are being made on fixed route service that may have been made on the paratransit service. This indication of a shift from paratransit to fixed route Is also supported by an analysis of the MI free fare records.
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From page 248... ...
Figure VI-9 provides a comparison of paratransit ridership during the period when paratransit fares were increased and when the free fare program was introduced. It shows monthly eldership from January, 1995 through May, 1996.
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From page 249... ...
_ 1994 755,592 17.2% . .___ 1995 786,139 4.0% TCRP B-1A VICE Draft Final Report
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From page 250... ...
~ ~ _ _ _ ~1 1 ~=3 ~ ~ -Girl 1 .~T: 1 -lo- 1 - _ ~21 .~1 1 ~ ~1 1 3~ &~ 1 ~;; rjc ~ 1 r~,~,,<~f~__ I 1"": '' ' ' ." .1., ,,, :...... ~ 77777~7~ to 1 ~ TCRP B-1A VI-50 Draft Final Report
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From page 251... ...
The free fare program was also introduced In June of 1991. TCRP B-lA VI-51 Draft Final Report
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From page 252... ...
Figure VI-IO. Paratransit and Free Fare Fixed Route Rides Provided by Tulsa Transit April, 1991- March, 1996 1 8000 1 6000 1 4000 lt 2000 ._ ~1 0000 8000 ~6000 0 4000 2000 04 Hi: _ _~ _ y _ , ~ _ I 1 -- 1 -- - 1 -- 1 -- 1 1 1 1 1 I -- I t t ~ -1 -- -~ -- -1 -- ~1 1 1 1- ~ I _~~~~~~ ~~_~ _ _ of: I,, ~i i i i i i i i i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ~ Hi: Months I ~ Paratransit Trips ~ Free Fare Rides1 TCRP B-1A VI-52 Draft Final Report
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From page 253... ...
While the free fare rides on fixed route do not appear to be Hips that were shifted away from the paratransit service, Key do appear to be trips that are berg made by LIFT riders that probably would otherwise have been made on paratransit. This conclusion is based on the fact that there does not appear to have been any switching from the half-fare to the free fare program and on customer interviews.
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From page 254... ...
While reduced fare ridership by persons with disabilities decreased after the one month demonstration, it is interesting to note Mat there was a gain of about 1,200 riders per month even after Me free fare was eliminated and half-fare was charged. Win the introduction of free fares on fixed route as a permanent fare program on April I, 1996, rides by persons win disabilities again rose to levels at or above Me number recorded during Me August demonstration.
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From page 255... ...
k ~ e 4 ~ 5 ^ - R ~ e s tea At ides -- -Free Fare and H sir Fare R ides HIP By- VE55 ~- ~1 turf
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From page 256... ...
Effects of the Fare Incentive Programs on Mule Choice In addition to tracking fixed route and paratransit ridership, qualitative information from riders about the impact of the free fare programs on their travel choices was also gathered. Focus group meetings of fixed route and paratransit riders were held In Bridgeport, Austin, and Miami.
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From page 257... ...
TCRP B-1A VI-57 Draft Final Report
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From page 258... ...
Consumers cited the free fare program as a sigriificant factor In their decision to begin using fixed route service. A good c3 river sensitivity training program was also cited as an important factor.
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From page 259... ...
._ TCRP B-1A VI-59 Draft Final Report
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From page 260... ...
successful travel training programs Cap* al Metro began funding Gavel training TCRP B-lA VI-60 Draft Final Report
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From page 261... ...
_ ._ . TCRP B-1A VI-61 Draft Final Report
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From page 262... ...
In Bridgeport, free fixed route fares were Introduced after the start of the travel training program. It was therefore possible to evaluate the impact of the Introduction of free fares on travel training efforts.
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From page 263... ...
Cost-Effectiveness of the Free Fare Programs Tables VI-12 and VI-13 provide a summary of the key impacts of each free fare program. Table VI-12 includes the number of annual free fixed route rides provided.
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From page 264... ...
. Total Free Rides Shifted % of Total RidesNew Fixed Route Fixed Route from Paratransit Paratransit Shifted fromRides by Persons Rides per to lPixed Route Demand Half-Fare towith Disabilities Year Shifted Free Fare Ann Arbor 1 144,300 36,200 1 23 ~ 1 44,100 164,000 Austin 1,305,000 106,800 23% 198,000over 1 million Bridgeport 1 253,400 6,400-19,000 1 6-17' i 1 162,000 172,400-85,000 Miami 187,000 33,000-66,000 4-8 % 0121,000-154,000 Tulsa 72,000 up to 72,000 up to 34% Oup to 72,000 TCRP B-lA VI-64 Draft Final Report
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From page 265... ...
.. Annualized Annualized Fixed Annualized Paratransit Route Revenue Net Savings Savings mu_ Ann Arbor$207,535 $15,448$192,087 Austin$1,591,320 $99,000$1,492,320 Bridgeport$91,072- $64,930$26,142 $270,370 $205 440 , , Miami$505,890 O$505,890 $1,011,780 $1,011 780 _ ~ Tulsaup to $607,680 0up to $607,680 TCRP B-IA VT-65 Draft Final Report
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From page 266... ...
Similarly, In Miami, a traditional analysis of paratransit demand using fare elasticity models would suggest that only 4% of Me paratransit trips shifted to fixed route. As noted earlier In this report, however, a close examination of paratransit demand immediately following the fare increase, and before the free fare program was implemented suggests that the fare increase had little impact on demand.
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From page 267... ...
This was particularly true In Austin, where the free fare program combined with numerous other transit and community access improvements has resulted in very high use of fixed route service by persons with disabilities. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES The service data and rider information coDectec} in these five case studies clearly suggests that offering free fares on fixed route service can have a dramatic Impact on paratransit demand and on the use of fixed route service by persons with disabilities.
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From page 268... ...
~ addition to promoting the use of fixer} route service by paratransit riders, the free fare programs studied aD appeared to also generate additional travel on transit by persons win disabilities. These new trips trpicaDy far outnumbered the trips shifted from paratransit services.
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From page 269... ...
Miami offered free fares only to persons already registered for paratransit service and avoided significant shifts from half-fare to free fares. This approach is appropriate for a limited time, and consideration must eventually be given to persons registered for paratransit after the iriitial date of the free fare program.
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From page 270... ...
One way to avoid creating demand for ADA paratransit eligibility is to offer fare incentive to a broader group of persons with disabilities that ~nclucles but is not limited to current paratransit riders. This was done In bow Austin and Ann Arbor by making free fares available to persons who qualified for either the exiting half-fare program or the paratransit service.
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From page 271... ...
Agencies with travel training programs may find that an added financial incentive to request training win increase the effectiveness of the program. The use of free fares as a limited promotion, TCRP B-lA VI-71 Draft Final Report
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From page 272... ...
Adequate identification of persons eligible for free fares should be part of any program. Agencies which currently use photo identification for ADA paratransit eligibility documentation will find it easier to implement periodic promotions or ongoing programs.
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