Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 21, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: FARE POLICY CHANGE
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE:
A. The results of the Fare Equity analysis for changing free fares to 5 years and under.
B. Changing the fare policy to raise the maximum age of free fare from under age 5 to under age 6.
...Issue
ISSUE
On September 23, 2021, the Board approved implementation of Phase 1 of the Fareless Systems Initiative (FSI) for participating K-12 districts and community colleges. In ongoing outreach for FSI, it became clear that not all 5-year-olds qualify for kindergarten to participate in FSI. Therefore, this action is recommended to eliminate the gap between 4-year-olds who ride for free and 5-year-olds who have not started school yet.
Background
BACKGROUND
According to Metro's current Fare Policy, "Two children under age 5 may travel free with each fare-paying adult on bus or rail." Under the newly implemented FSI Phase 1, children at participating school districts may obtain a TAP card from their school to travel without paying fares on Metro and participating local and regional transit operators. However, the State of California limits Kindergarten enrollment to children who turn 5 on or before August 31st. Consequently, some 5-year-olds do not qualify to enter kindergarten and cannot travel for free under either program.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Based on public feedback from the outreach process, staff recommends raising the maximum age for free rides on Metro from "under age 5" to "under age 6".
Service and Fare Equity (SAFE) Analysis Requirement
According to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Title VI guidance, "a fare equity analysis requirement applies to all fare changes regardless of the amount of increase or decrease. As with the service equity analysis, FTA requires transit providers to evaluate the effects of fare changes on low-income populations in addi...
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