File #: 2024-0258   
Type: Motion / Motion Response Status: Passed
File created: 4/12/2024 In control: Executive Management Committee
On agenda: 4/18/2024 Final action: 4/25/2024
Title: APPROVE Motion by Directors Bass, Butts, Dutra, Dupont-Walker, Mitchell, and Solis that the Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to: A. Make the GoPass Fareless Pilot Program permanent and provide a report back to the Board annually at the September Board Meeting, beginning September 2024, on program implementation, including but not limited to: 1. An analysis reflecting the prior 12 months of data; 2. Identifying additional funding sources to help offset the program's cost to the Agency, including philanthropic and commercial partnerships; 3. Identifying barriers to cost sharing that educational institutions, particularly those in or serving Equity-Focused Communities, face in implementing the program; 4. The Program's impact on Metro ridership and other outcomes for students; and 5. Report on the feasibility of enhancements to the program. B. Report back by June 2024 on opportunities to expand the Low-Income-Fare-is-Easy program enrollment and utilization, including b...
Sponsors: Board of Directors - Regular Board Meeting
Indexes: Barriers (Roads), Fareless System Initiative, Fernando Dutra, GoPass, Hilda Solis, Holly J. Mitchell, Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, James Butts, Janice Hahn, Karen Bass, Low-Income Fare is Easy (LIFE), Motion / Motion Response, Outreach, Pilot studies, Program, Ridership, Students, Subsidies
Related files: 2024-0351
Meeting_Body
REVISED
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
APRIL 18, 2024

Preamble
Motion by:

DIRECTORS BASS, BUTTS, DUTRA, DUPONT-WALKER, MITCHELL, AND SOLIS

Bridge To Farelessness

Los Angeles County public transit users are primarily low-income people of color who are disproportionately and negatively impacted by the high cost of housing and transportation associated with living in our region. The 2022 Metro Customer Survey revealed that 43% of bus riders report household incomes under $15,000, 89% earn less than $50,000 annually, and 63% and 15% identify as Latino/a and Black, respectively. For comparison, that year's US Census found Los Angeles's median household income as $83,411, and 47% and 8.3% identified as Latino/a and Black, respectively.

Removing transit fares for those in need will make public transportation accessible and ensure that low-income individuals and families can afford public transit, promoting social equity. A reliable, frequent, and accessible public transit system improves access to economic and education opportunities, enhances social connections, and reduces isolation, especially for those who may face mobility challenges.

As of February 2024, Metro has seen ridership increase to approximately 80% of pre-pandemic levels, marking the 15th consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth. To continue this upward trend, Metro must maintain these ridership gains and increase ridership throughout the system. Cost is often a barrier to using public transportation, and removing this barrier can encourage more people to choose sustainable and efficient modes of transit. Increased ridership can have positive economic effects by boosting local businesses around transit hubs.

Encouraging more people to use public transportation instead of driving single-occupancy private vehicles contributes to reducing traffic congestion, leading to smoother traffic flow, minimizing the need for extensive road infrastructure, and reducing carbon emissio...

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