(The Center Square) – The transit company that serves the Denver metro space is exploring the opportunity of making a pilot program everlasting that gives free fares to 19-year-old and below passengers.
In August, the Regional Transportation District announced its Zero Fare for Youth program. That will waive fares for other people ages 19 and more youthful for all RTD products and services from Sept. 1 via Aug. 31, 2024.
Stuart Summers, communications officer for Regional Transportation District, mentioned the company requested for extra time to finish a “fare equity analysis” whilst exploring making the Zero Fare for Youth free-ride everlasting.
Summers said below Federal Transit Administration regulations, a fare fairness research was once vital on all fare adjustments to make sure there was once now not a unfavorable affect on minorities or low-income populations.
In June, July and August, public transit businesses in Colorado had been ready to waive fares for all passengers as a part of the Zero Fare for Better Air initiative. Colorado Senate Bill 22-180 appropriated $28 million to fund this system.
Denver’s RTD buses had an increase in ridership in July and August from the former 12 months as soon as fares had been waived.
For instance, ridership higher in August 2023 by means of 9% from August 2022, however RTD nonetheless lagged the pre-pandemic August 2019 by means of 28%. Transit firms around the nation are suffering to achieve its pre-pandemic ridership ranges.
Fares and immediately generated income equaled $203.7 million in 2019, the 12 months earlier than the pandemic. That dropped to $97 million in 2021.
Federal cash for the Denver transit company higher from $84.6 million in 2019 to $299 million in 2021, in line with the Federal Transit Administration.
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