The Fare-Free Transit Program was initiated by the Town of Milton as a means to increase passenger participation during non-peak travel periods. By eliminating user fees, public transit was promoted as an inexpensive and sustainable transportation alternative targeting Milton residents who could most benefit from a free service, including seniors, students, and families with infants/young children. Corporate sponsorship was solicited and obtained to subsidize lost fare revenue, neutralizing the impact on the municipal operating budget. This report is a synthesis of Milton's experience implementing a Fare-Free Program, including: communication plan development/implementation, observations/results achieved, issues brought forth, and subsequent policy recommendations for possible future opportunities. Performance data was collected through a combination of qualitative and quantitative statistical methods, including passenger surveys, daily operations tracking, and electronic farebox data recording. For the covering abstract of this conference see ITRD number E216597.
Abstract