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

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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)

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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