FARE STUDY UPDATE Operations & Customer Service Committee January 13, 2015

Summary of Outreach Webpage with video & comment form Public meetings 560 comments Video sent to Local Channel 8’s Public meetings Six meetings with 200 total attendees Advertised in local print media and on all RTD vehicles RTD Online Customer Community survey 147 responses out of 199 members

Current Fares BUS Local/Limited Express Regional SkyRide RAIL 1 or 2 Zones 3 Zones All Zones n/a PRICE $2.25 $4.00 $5.00 $9/$11/$13 Route HX Boulder US 36 & McCaslin Denver Local Express Regional -- Fare Table for the HX Regional Route. Fare tables are currently used on all Regional and SkyRide routes. Current Light Rail Fare Zone map

Four Types of Service Structure No Zones Bus or Rail to/from DIA

What we Heard: Types of Service Four types are better than current system Zoned rail fares: Most passengers do not like the existing zones and prefer the single rail fare Suggestions to combine types of service for pricing levels Rail and Local Bus Regional Bus and Airport A few individuals would prefer a distance based structure for the whole system Split opinion on charging more for DIA

Payment Alternatives for Further Evaluation Pay per Boarding 2. Pay for Time

What we Heard: Pay per Boarding Simpler system Potential for passengers who need to transfer to pay more for their trip Concerns that this could impact low income passengers Cash paying customers could increase dwell times Difficult to enforce on rail Day pass is desirable

What we Heard: Pay for Time Simpler than the current system since it eliminates the round-tripping transfer restriction Does not solve operator/customer disputes about transfer time windows Concerns about service delays cutting into the time window Three hours is too short Option would overcharge riders for short trips

What we Heard: General Keep monthly and other pass programs Expand smart card program Desire for a low-income pass (or major improvements to existing non-profit agency reduced fare program) Why are fares necessary if we already pay for RTD with taxes? Desire for a day pass with either payment option Difficult to evaluate these options without pricing

RTD Task Force Discussions: Bus Service Two types of bus service are desirable Regional service could be called “REX” and priced closer to current Express service REX service classified by type of operation (few stops and higher operating speed) Current Express routes will be moved to Local/Limited or REX category based on travel time and operating speed On REX service passengers pay REX fare independent of trip length Goal to match vehicle to type of service (i.e. over the road coach = REX)

RTD Task Force Discussions: Rail Elimination of zones is simpler Improves enforcement and customer education Could improve parking supply utilization Best to set Rail fare equivalent to Local bus Airport surcharge Ideal to have bus and rail to the airport priced at the same level Airport surcharge requires enforcement of a “zone” but still simpler than current four zones

RTD Task Force Discussions: Payment Options Preference for pay per boarding with a low-priced day pass available on the bus Price day pass to minimize impact of the change on passengers who make transfers Day pass is easier to enforce than current transfers or a three-hour ticket TriMet recently added ticket printers on their buses to sell 2-Hour tickets or day passes Source: TriMet (Portland)

Updated Project Schedule Board decision on fare structure will be combined with pricing levels based on public feedback February – staff to present revenue analysis and proposals for structure and levels March – Board approves public hearings for fare structure and levels in March/April May – Board approval of fare structure and levels May approval supports goal of implementing policies in early 2016 in advance of new FasTracks corridors Pass programs and public education continue through 2015

Next Steps Analysis to include “revenue neutral” fare levels Develop a structural/fare proposal by February Identify both “revenue neutral” ($119M) and Board approved Strategic Budget Plan (SBP) target revenue level ($131M) for comparison Develop proposals for fare levels that correspond to the Board approved 2016 SBP fare revenue target ($131M) Note that revenue neutral pricing would require service reductions