The Zero-Fare Public Transit Movement Is Picking Up Momentum

The D.C. measure aims to get rid of the $2 fare to ride the bus starting in July. The city council unanimously approved the measure, and it's awaiting a formal response from Mayor Muriel Bowser, who can either approve, veto or return the bill unsigned.

As fare revenue plummeted and transit agencies watched their budgets erode, state and local government subsidies along with federal Covid relief funding became necessary to preserve transportation for essential workers. Kansas City first experimented with zero-fare transit in 2016 with the launch of its streetcar, a two-mile fixed rail line in the city's downtown where riders can hop on and off, free of charge. The city is investing $400 million to expand the streetcar route to more than six miles by 2025.

Kansas City had both. Fares made up only 12%, or about $8 million, of the buses' operating budget, according to Richard Jarrold, vice president of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. Meanwhile, the city was spending $2 million to $3 million annually on fare collection, according to Morgan Said, chief of staff to the mayor.Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

But the city's transportation infrastructure relies on fares for around 30% of its operational budget, a difficult sum to subsidize.

Free buses, free to commit crimes, free free free!!!

Who is going to pay for it? Nothing is free in this world!

It's already free for some. I am irritated regularly when riding the El or BSL and watch person after person either jump the turnstile or bypass it. Why do I bother to pay.

Yes

Maybe. The hesitancy in using public transportation vs private vehicle is that the schedules aren't convenient. Mass transit in the suburban counties have long wait times between buses.

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