Free Transit

Sound Transit is launching a fare-free program for young riders in the hopes of educating and recruiting future riders and making schools and jobs more accessible to transit-dependent youth.

August 12, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

The city has tasked the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority with evaluating the feasibility of eliminating transit fares.

August 5, 2022 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dozens of cities made public transit free during the pandemic. Can transit agencies sustain these programs?

July 25, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

City officials in North Myrtle Beach argue that a free transit program has led to a rise in the town’s homelessness rate.

July 22, 2022 - Mass Transit

After eliminating transit fares in 2020, the city of Tucson is exploring ways to fund a permanent program.

June 22, 2022 - Tucson.com

Cities around the country are embracing free fares to lure riders back to public transit, but the ridership recovery continues to sputter.

June 19, 2022 - Politico

Thanks to state and regional funding, the city eliminated fares while making service improvements.

June 7, 2022 - Governing

The Youth Opportunity Pass program provides free transit to San Diego County youth in an effort to boost ridership and improve transportation options for young residents.

April 20, 2022 - ABC 10 News San Diego

A program that distributed prepaid, transit-only debit cards to 500 Oakland residents has been successful in shifting transportation patterns for many of its participants.

April 11, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

The state is weighing a plan to offer free transit rides during ozone-heavy months in an effort to improve the state's air quality.

March 30, 2022 - Colorado Public Radio

Cincinnati residents and visitors will have access to free transit for a week as the agency aims to boost ridership.

March 22, 2022 - WCPO

The city's new mayor wants to see fare-free transit funded as a public good throughout the Boston region.

March 16, 2022 - The Washington Post

After a successful pilot program, the OCTA will permanently offer free bus rides to youth ages 6 to 18.

February 25, 2022 - Orange County Transportation Authority

Early returns from Utah Transit Authority's fare-free transit experiment.

February 21, 2022 - TownLift

A lack of access to affordable and reliable transit is being cited as a major reason why many college students don't finish school.

December 15, 2021 - The Washington Post

Transit advocates worry that the movement to eliminate fares will come at a high cost to transit-dependent riders who rely on frequent, reliable service to reach jobs and services.

November 19, 2021 - The Washington Post

With buses as a dominant transport mode for low-income households and "essential workers," free fares would increase access to economic opportunities and free up limited income for cash-strapped commuters.

October 12, 2021 - NextCity

Free transit would reduce boarding times and improve working conditions for bus drivers, the 'frontline workers' responsible for fare collection and enforcement.

September 14, 2021 - NextCity

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors has approved a program that would eliminate fares for students and low-income riders, but the program's future rests on finding sustainable funding sources.

June 6, 2021 - LAist

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will let low-income residents and K-12 students ride for free starting in January 2022.

March 4, 2021 - LAist