So many aspects of a transit system's fare system can make or break the rider experience and even the long-term viability of the system. A new report helps transit planners and service designers make sense of all the options.
Fare policy has huge implications for transit riders, according to the impetus behind a new report by TransitCenter. "When transit agencies grapple with changes to fare prices, payment systems, and collection methods, they make decisions that affect affordability, convenience, and even travel time."
The new report, titled "A Fare Framework" [pdf] examines case studies of rider-friendly principles at the San Francisco MTA, TriMet in Portland, and King County Metro in Seattle.
"The paper also outlines recommendations related to broader trends within fare policy, like decriminalizing fare evasion and the adoption of mobile payment methods," according to the article that explains and promotes the report.
The article also comes with the explainer video on fare policy that can be viewed above.
FULL STORY: How Transit Agencies Are Getting Strategic About Fare Policy

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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research