free fare program · 2011. 10. 21. · free fare program facts • free fare program began in fy...

Free Fare Program

What is the

Free Fare Program?

• Access customers may ride participating fixed-route bus and rail for FREE in L.A. County.

• Automatically available to all eligible Access riders. Rider presents their Access TAP card as fare when boarding the bus or rail.

• Participation in Free Fare program does not affect a rider’s current eligibility for Access.

Free Fare Program Facts

• Free Fare Program began in FY 2001- 2002 with one

Free Fare Partner and approximately 732 passenger

boardings reported

• As of FY 2010-2011 Access has 22 Free Fare

Partners with more than 2.5 million trips shifted

from ADA paratransit to fixed route

• Of the 22 Free Fare Partners Access reimburses 14

agencies. The other nine agencies do not ask for

reimbursement

FREE FARE PROGRAM

PARTNERS

Reimbursed

Antelope Valley Transit Authority Beach Cities Culver City El Monte Foothill Transit Huntington Park COMBI LADOT Dash and Commuter Express Long Beach Transit* Montebello Bus Lines Metrolink Norwalk Pasadena ARTS Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Torrance Transit

No Charge to Access

Carson Transit Downey Link Glendale Beeline Monterey Park Metro Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority Santa Clarita Transit West Hollywood Transit

Passenger Boardings

FY 2001 through FY 2011

Amount reimbursed to Free Fare Partners

Free Fare Program has saved the region

approximately $220 million between FY 2001

through FY 2011.

Per Trip Costs:

Free Fare versus Paratransit

$691,907 $806,000 $1.2m1 $1.4m9 $2.7m

$35m $35m

$42m

$48m

$67m

2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011

Free Fare Amount Charged to Access Actual Cost if no Free Fare program

Free Fare Costs vs. ADA Paratransit

Trip Comparison

Free Fare Partner Facts

Highest Usage of Free Fare Program:

• Metrolink

• Montebello Transit

• L.A. DOT

• Culver City Bus Lines

• Antelope Valley Transit Authority

Metrolink

Lines

Antelope Valley

Inland Empire

Orange County

Riverside

San Bernadino

Ventura County

91 Line

Metrolink Lines

Passenger & Cost Comparison

LADOT – DASH/Commuter Lines

Passenger & Cost Comparison

Montebello Bus Lines

Passenger & Cost Comparison

Culver City Bus Lines

Passenger & Cost Comparison

Antelope Valley Transit

Passenger & Cost Comparison

Access Ridership Growth compared to

New Certified Riders –

FY 2006-2007 through FY 2010-2011

Access Ridership Growth compared to

New Certified Riders –

FY 2001-2002 through FY 2010-2011

Free Fare Program Audit

Scope

• Review data collection procedures of selected transit

agencies and determine if their methodology in reporting

Access Free Fare passengers is accurate

• Agencies reviewed include:

- Montebello Bus Lines

- Culver City Bus

- L.A. DOT

- Metrolink

• Desk/Trip Audits; Ride Checks and Interviews with agency

staff

Free Fare Program Audit

Findings

• Agency’s data processing and invoicing procedures support

the Free Fare Program invoices submitted to Access

Services.

• New fareboxes on LADOT vehicles will improve accuracy of

data collection efforts.

• Person with disabilities account for 1% to 5% of boardings

Free Fare Program Audit

Findings

0.00%

1.00%

2.00%

3.00%

4.00%

5.00%

6.00%

DASH 1 DASH 2 DASH 3 DASH 4 DASH 5a DASH 5b DASH 6 Montebello CulverCitybus

MetrolinkInvoice

AVERAGE

Free Fare Program Monthly Boardings

TAP Card - & Free Fare

New Access

ID Card - TAP

Old Access

ID Card

Questions