The Case for Free Transit: Episode 4

Dropping fares on public transit systems has been a hot topic lately. Free fare has been common in smaller systems for a long time, but just recently, large cities like Kansas City, Denver, and Salt Lake City are experimenting with the idea. We go over the numerous benefits of free fare in many U.S. systems, remind the public that New York's transit shouldn't be free, and take stock of some potential problems with and criticisms of cutting fares out of the transit equation. Free fare just might be the future! UPDATE: Shortly after recording, Utah Transit Authority (our local transit agency) announced Free Fare February for all services across their entire system. Links and stuffs Merch:https://shop.trlpod.com/ Twitter:@TheRedLine_pod YouTube channel:The Red Line Podcast Spotify:The Red Line Podcast Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/theredlinepodcasters Email:[email protected] Website:https://www.trlpod.com/ Timestamps 00:00 Intro—free fare in Utah 00:56 Theme song 01:31 History [10] [11] [12] [14] [16] [17] 01:31 Transit used to be for-profit 02:06 Light rail with free fare downtown 02:42 Free fare cities and programs[15] [18] 04:11 LA Metro & the pandemic[1] 04:55 Utah Transit Authority & pandemic recovery[2] [3] [4] [13] 06:07 Free fare around the world 06:45 Free fare is becoming a hot topic real fast—MBTA 07:23 Benefits [10] [11] [12] [14] [16] [17] 07:23 Big ridership gains 09:34 More for your money 10:47 Underprivileged communities 11:22 Save on fare collection[5] [6] 11:51 Easier to try for the first time 12:52 Immediate cost—psychological barrier 13:51 Downsides & criticism [10] 13:51 Does free fare get people out of cars? TODO: Find breakdown of UTA fare revenue 14:30 Bulk fare from institutions—the free fare experience 16:05 SLC airport promotion 17:11 Some agencies need fare revenue—MTA and the "transit cities"[7] [8] 19:06 Homeless individuals staying on transit vehicles 19:29 Fare dodging & enforcement[9] 20:41 Do the free fare thing! 21:12 Thanks & please argue with us References & notes [1]Curbed: L.A. Just Ran (and Ended) the Biggest Free-Transit Experiment in the U.S. [1] LA Metro has resumed fare collection as of Jan. 10, 2022. banner on their website (archive.org) [2]UTA ridership dashboard, illustrating post-pandemic recovery [3] UTA's S-Line added 15 minute service in the evenings (past 7:20) and extended Sunday operating hours (last train at 11:30ish rather than 8ish).Old schedule vs.current schedule [4] Correction: FrontRunner ridership used to be around 20,000 on a weekday (see the "Commuter Rail" slide in[2] [5] UTA's PCI compliance spending ($7.8m during 2020-2024) is line item 23 on page 10 ofthis document (plus $5m for electronic fare collection—line item 16) [6] Savings used to be 20% on rail and 40% on bus (now 20% on both).Source and further reading. [7]MTA operating budget [8]Wikipedia: Farebox recovery ratio [9]VISOR: Why the honesty system in public transportation makes sense [10]Wikipedia: Free public transport [11]The New York Times: Should Public Transit Be Free? More Cities Say, Why Not? (archived) [12]CNBC: Americans spend over 15% of their budgets on transportation costs—these US cities are trying to make it free [13]FOX 13: Bill would offer free fare on any Utah public transit system [14]Inverse: These cities made public transportation free. Here's what happened next. [15]Curbed: Kansas City becomes first major U.S. city to make public transit free [16]Westword: Could Free Service Solve Denver’s Transit Problems? [17]Quartz: American cities are experimenting with free public transit [18]The Salt Lake Tribune: Ride UTA for free Thursday and Friday as part of 'Free Fares for Clean Air'