[...]
The idea of making public transit free dates back decades, but it never really took off in large cities until recently. In the 1970s, Denver and Trenton, N.J., experimented with free rides during off-peak hours, and while the program increased ridership, it created too many problems and both cities discontinued their pilot programs after a year, according to a 2002 study by the National Center for Transportation Research at the University of South Florida.
In 1989, Austin offered free transit across its system for one year. Ridership grew, but so did vandalism and onboard disturbances involving youth; the city also experienced overcrowded buses, additional costs to run extra buses, increased vehicle maintenance needs and complaints from longtime riders about an influx of homeless people taking up seats.
The nearly two-decade-old study said such programs would work on smaller scales, and have in college and ski towns, as well as in transit programs that target specific populations like commuters, students and the elderly.
Several big cities, including Baltimore and Denver, have made parts of their public transportation systems free. But shifting priorities toward fighting climate change, economic and racial inequity and traffic congestion have several urban cities to revisit the idea of free transit for all.
Kansas City, Mo., became the first large city to do so in January. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority created “Zero Fare KC,” an initiative that costs about $9 million but is expected to generate nearly double that amount in regional economic benefits, according to a study the agency and the University of Missouri Kansas City released last week.
“For those living paycheck to paycheck, as most Americans are, even an additional $50 per month of income can make the difference in deciding which bills to pay,” the study said.
Olympia, Wash., also made its system, Intercity Transit, free this year. A Boston council woman is pushing to make the city fare-free, while nearby Lawrence, Mass., is paying $225,000 over two years to waive fares on three major bus routes. Lawrence, like the District, does not control its main transit system, which is why Allen proposes $100 SmarTrip card credits every month rather than free boarding.
[...]
The idea of making public transit free dates back decades, but it never really took off in large cities until recently. In the 1970s, Denver and Trenton, N.J., experimented with free rides during off-peak hours, and while the program increased ridership, it created too many problems and both cities discontinued their pilot programs after a year, according to a 2002 study by the National Center for Transportation Research at the University of South Florida.
In 1989, Austin offered free transit across its system for one year. Ridership grew, but so did vandalism and onboard disturbances involving youth; the city also experienced overcrowded buses, additional costs to run extra buses, increased vehicle maintenance needs and complaints from longtime riders about an influx of homeless people taking up seats.
The nearly two-decade-old study said such programs would work on smaller scales, and have in college and ski towns, as well as in transit programs that target specific populations like commuters, students and the elderly.
Several big cities, including Baltimore and Denver, have made parts of their public transportation systems free. But shifting priorities toward fighting climate change, economic and racial inequity and traffic congestion have several urban cities to revisit the idea of free transit for all.
Kansas City, Mo., became the first large city to do so in January. The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority created “Zero Fare KC,” an initiative that costs about $9 million but is expected to generate nearly double that amount in regional economic benefits, according to a study the agency and the University of Missouri Kansas City released last week.
“For those living paycheck to paycheck, as most Americans are, even an additional $50 per month of income can make the difference in deciding which bills to pay,” the study said.
Olympia, Wash., also made its system, Intercity Transit, free this year. A Boston council woman is pushing to make the city fare-free, while nearby Lawrence, Mass., is paying $225,000 over two years to waive fares on three major bus routes. Lawrence, like the District, does not control its main transit system, which is why Allen proposes $100 SmarTrip card credits every month rather than free boarding.
[...]
