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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <item>
      <title>Fare-Free Futures: The Diffusion of Youth Fare-Free Transit Programs in the U.S.</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2784731</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Youth and student populations represent a critical but underexamined segment for long-term public transit ridership growth in the United States. In response, transit agencies have started offering free or reduced fare programs for youth as a strategy to increase ridership and reduce transportation costs. However, there is currently no comprehensive, national-level understanding of how and why these programs are being adopted, nor what organizational and structural factors enable or constrain their implementation. This project evaluates the adoption and diffusion of youth fare-free programs across U.S. transit agencies. The research team will identify agencies across rural, suburban, and urban areas, determine their program status, and distribute surveys to a stratified sample to examine factors such as funding, staffing capacity, political support, and institutional readiness. The research team will analyze these data to understand what enables or constrains adoption across stages of implementation. The expected results include a clearer understanding of adoption patterns, key drivers and barriers, and conditions that support program success. Findings will inform transit agencies and policymakers by supporting more consistent evaluation practices and guiding future policy and funding strategies. More broadly, this project will support efforts to improve system performance, increase ridership, and expand access to transportation for youth.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:28:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2784731</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Zero- and Reduced-Fare Transit Policy and Post-Pandemic Recovery: A Multi-Agency Analysis of Ridership, Service Supply, and Access</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2697838</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Despite growing interest in fare reduction as a policy lever, rigorous comparative evidence on its effects, particularly in the post-pandemic context, remains limited. In Virginia some 40 transit agencies eliminated fares for some period of time during the COVID pandemic, leading the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to ask how fare reduction or fare elimination have affected ridership, operations, and access for system users. This research addresses that question by developing a structured analytical framework and applying it to a sample of transit agencies in which Virginia properties are heavily represented. Using longitudinal data spanning years before and after the pandemic “lockdown”, the research compares agencies that adopted zero- and reduced-fare policies or means-tested fare-free programs against matched fare-collecting agencies. The analysis addresses three interrelated outcomes: ridership recovery trajectories, changes in service supply and scheduled speeds and headways, and shifts in access to employment and key destinations. For a representative subset of agencies, the study also conducts a network-level analysis of access to employment using Remix, a transit planning and scheduling software tool, for a selected set of agencies that represent a range of system sizes. Findings are intended to provide evidence-based guidance for Virginia transit agencies and other stakeholders considering fare policy as a tool for ridership recovery and service quality and performance.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:37:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2697838</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Quick-Response Research on Long-Term Strategic Issues. Task 56. Transit Fare Programs for High School and Postsecondary Students</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636148</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this research is to develop guidance for United States transit agencies of all sizes and modes and their partners to support the design, implementation, operation, funding, promotion, sustainability, and evaluation of student fare programs for high school and postsecondary students (see Special Note A). At a minimum, the resources should do the following: Describe and analyze different models (or examples) of transit student fare programs applicable to a variety of communities and students with different characteristics throughout the United States; Discuss and examine public transit fare policies (e.g., pricing, eligibility, dissemination, verification, and enforcement) and payment methods and technologies that effectively serve different types of public transit agencies, high schools, postsecondary educational institutions, and students, including those with disabilities; Present and evaluate funding sources and identify circumstances that align with different stakeholder goals, with a particular emphasis on a resource-constrained funding environment; Identify stakeholder roles and responsibilities and partnership structures to develop, implement, strengthen, and sustain student fare programs; Present communication and outreach strategies to help transit agencies increase awareness, communicate benefits, and promote (1) adoption of student fare programs by high schools and postsecondary educational institutions and (2) transit ridership by their students; Provide criteria and methods to evaluate the impacts of student fare programs on high school and postsecondary students including, but not limited to: Near- and potential long-term transit ridership and travel behavior impacts, Cost and financial implications for transit agencies, high schools and postsecondary educational institutions, and students, Different outcomes based on program characteristics; and Other intended and unintended consequences; Identify potential barriers to effective student fare programs and mitigation strategies for public transit agencies, high schools and postsecondary educational institutions, and students.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:08:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636148</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Family-Friendly Transit Fares</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636141</link>
      <description><![CDATA[BACKGROUND - Interest is growing in family-friendly transit services, including transit fares that address the needs of families and caregivers traveling together and independently. These fares are designed to recognize that (1) traveling with dependents, whether younger children, older adults, or a person with disabilities, can require multiple fares, burdening parents or caregivers with higher travel costs or complex fare payment policies; (2) fares for families traveling as a group can make travel by transit more desirable and a less costly option than driving and parking or using private ridesharing; and (3) free or reduced fares for children can increase their autonomy and reduce the chaperoning burdens of parents and caregivers. 

Research on family-friendly transit service is growing, too. TCRP Research Report 265: Addressing Travel Needs of Women and Families on Public Transportation (2026) discusses transit fares as well as other opportunities to improve transit services for families. Recently, the Federal Transit Administration published a Request for Information on Family Friendly Transit in the Federal Register asking for ideas and suggestions to make transit more family friendly. 

Transit fare programs targeted to specific transit riders are not new to the public transit agencies in the United States. Policies regarding special fares have been implemented at many levels of governance.

Federal Law (49 USC Section 5307 (d) (1) (D)) has long required transit agencies that receive any federal capital or operating funds in urban areas with populations of 200,000 or more and 75 or more Peak Buses to provide: Discounts for older adults: 50% discount of peak period fares for seniors (defined as 65 years of age or older, though many transit agencies use different age thresholds for senior fare programs); and Discounts for people with disabilities: 50% discount for people meeting disability requirements as defined in law and having a Medicare card issued under Title II or XVII of the Social Security Act (42 USC Section 4011). These requirements are designed to support transit passengers with limited incomes, are older adults, or have disabilities.

State and local transit fares. Many transit agencies and some states and regions have introduced reduced and free transit fares for children and young adults. These fare programs typically stipulate eligibility requirements by age and sometimes by time of day. For example, some transit agencies stipulate: Free fares for small children (typically under 5-6 years); Free or reduced fares for pre-teen, elementary/primary school children (typically in the 5-11 age range); Free or reduced fares for teenagers (i.e., children 12 to18 years of age) traveling on their own; and Free or reduced fares for students at public and private schools (including postsecondary schools such as vocational, technical, college, and professional institutions) with student identification cards.
Considering the growing interest in family-friendly transit fares and emerging fare technologies, transit agencies and communities need information regarding which fare programs, administration strategies, funding approaches, and promotional strategies are most effective under different operating environments (e.g., agency sizes, service models, fare media sales and validation equipment, community types, rider populations, and other circumstances). Research is needed to fill this gap and enable interested communities in the United States to design, implement, and sustain family-friendly transit fares that are effective. 

OBJECTIVE - The objective of this research is to develop practical guidance and tools that transit agencies of all sizes and modes in the United States and their stakeholders can use to plan, implement, administer, promote, evaluate, and sustain family-friendly transit fare programs that are tailored to local and regional goals, resources, and capabilities. At a minimum, the resource should consider: (1) Current landscape and future scenarios. Summarize current fare policies and practices that may facilitate family travel by improving traveler convenience and reducing passenger costs. Assess the availability and quality of data, research, and performance measures that can be used to evaluate the impacts of family-friendly transit fares. Provide examples of transit fare programs, policies, and technologies designed to be family friendly in the United States and internationally. How do these fare programs define family relationships, caregivers, dependents, and eligible household members? What are potential goals and anticipated benefits of family-friendly transit fares? What are important criteria and factors that affect the design, administration, and funding of family-friendly transit fare programs? What data on travel (including travel on transit) by family groups and young people may be needed by transit agencies to estimate the potential market for and impacts of family-friendly fares? 

(2) Administration. Identify and examine criteria, methods, and technologies that may be used to effectively administer family-friendly transit fare programs. Address how transit fare program administration may be structured in different communities (e.g., communities with one transit agency that operates one transit mode; one transit agency that operates multiple transit modes; and more than one transit agency, where seamless travel among transit agencies and their different modes is important). This includes at a minimum:
(a) Potential fare policies and strategies. These include fare policies that eliminate transfer costs, open payments, pass back policies that allow multiple people to pay with one fare media, and fare-capping which limits the amount a rider pays during a given time period (e.g., day, week or month) and precludes the need to incur the full cost of a fare pass in advance. (b) Eligibility and enforcement. How can transit agencies ensure that eligibility criteria for family-friendly fares include parents, legal guardians, caregivers, foster parents, and other adults who serve as primary caregivers? What methods can be used by transit passengers to prove their eligibility? What methods can be used to establish and verify eligibility while minimizing administrative burden and protecting passenger privacy? What enforcement methods may be used by transit agencies so that only eligible riders receive the benefits of family-friendly fares? (c) Fare payment media and technology. How do different fare payment media and technologies create opportunities and barriers for different types of family-friendly transit fare programs? How will they potentially affect transit agency operations? 

(3) Cost and Funding. Identify and describe the direct and indirect costs of implementing and operating family-friendly transit fares; potential funding sources and funding strategies that may offset these costs, and the revenue impacts associated with free or reduced fares; and examples of funding sources for children such as schools, special districts, employers, and special events.

(4) Communication and promotion. Identify and describe communication and outreach strategies to help transit agencies increase awareness and communicate benefits of family-friendly transit fares and increase transit ridership by people eligible for these fares.
  
(5) Outcomes. Provide criteria and methods to evaluate the impacts of family-friendly transit fares including, but not limited to, transit ridership, travel behavior impacts and customer satisfaction, cost and financial implications for transit agencies,  economic, social, community, and family benefits, and other intended and unintended consequences.

(6) Barriers and mitigation strategies. Identify potential institutional, financial, technological, operational, legal, and policy barriers that may affect the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of family-friendly transit fare programs, and recommend strategies to address them.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:00:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2636141</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Blockchain Application on Smart Transportation Systems</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2553154</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Blockchain technology, predominantly utilized within cryptocurrency, is being increasingly adapted across diverse sectors, and transportation systems is not an exception. Despite presenting several challenges, blockchain technology also offers various advantages. Understanding Blockchain’s potential applications and benefits in addressing future urban challenges is an emerging field of research which has not been fully investigated. In fact, what makes blockchain attractive for smart cities is the design scheme and underlying protocols. The decentralized computational aspect of blockchain enhances the reliability of data transmission across network nodes. Each data transaction between nodes is recorded with a unique identifier and it is validated by consensus among agents within the system. Transaction transparency mitigates the risk of passing inaccurate information throughout the network. 

The proposed project aims at comprehensively studying the application of blockchain technology within various domains of transportation systems. Emphasis will be placed on growth areas, anticipated hurdles, research gaps, and potential integration solutions of blockchain in transportation system design. The comprehensive literature review will cover a broad spectrum ranging from information exchange in connected vehicles to supply chain logistics and smart transit payment systems. The analysis will extend further by constructing a simulation-based platform to investigate the implementation of a blockchain-based fare payment system in transit. Within this simulation analysis, security, risk mitigation, failure prevention, and privacy preservation will be delved into. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2025 19:01:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2553154</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Travel Behavior and Financial Impacts of Fare Capping



</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2464324</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Effective fare payment policies and practices are essential to the efficient operation of public transportation services. Transit agencies in the United States and internationally have implemented fare capping since the early 2000s as account-based fare payment technologies and systems became available. Account-based technologies offer numerous benefits, including faster boarding, reduced cash handling, and the ability to provide fare product options, such as fare capping. Currently, limited information is known about the effects of fare capping on transit ridership and revenue. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this research are to (1) examine the ridership and revenue effects of fare capping for public transit agencies in North America, and (2) provide sketch planning tools that estimate the potential ridership and revenue impacts of fare capping for transit agencies with varying attributes. This research should build on the available research on fare capping and the experiences of domestic and international transit agencies with fare capping programs. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Nov 2024 06:17:21 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2464324</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Mobility and Funding Assessment for the Expansion of Free and Reduced Fares</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2417473</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The aim of this project is to conduct an assessment for the expansion of free and reduced fares in Illinois’ public transit systems to increase transit ridership. Researchers will investigate the impact of existing free and reduced fare programs, assess potential expansion strategies and provide recommendations for improved equity and service efficiency. Effectively developing programs for the expansion of free and reduced transit fares will allow transit agencies to enhance their revenue streams as well as provide affordable fares.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Aug 2024 09:23:05 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2417473</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Quick-Response Research on Long-Term Strategic Issues. Task 50. Transit Funding Sources and Governance Models</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2307252</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objectives of this research are to present (1) revenue sources for public transportation and the relationship between revenue sources and governance models to help public transportation agencies be financially sustainable in the future and (2) a decision-making tool to help guide discourse among stakeholders regarding public transportation governance and methods for sustaining and increasing funding. The research should address through illustrative examples: (1) What are different revenue sources and how does governance relate to and affect funding and financial sustainability for public transportation? (2) What are the key attributes and criteria that distinguish governance models and funding sources for public transportation? (3) What are the benefits, challenges, and risks of different revenue sources and governance models? How do they affect the financial sustainability of public transportation?]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:38:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2307252</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Practices. Topic SB-40. Low-Income Transit Discount Provision at Public Transit Agencies in the United States

</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2190463</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Over the past decade, public transit agencies across the United States and Canada have increasingly adopted low-income fare discount programs to improve transit affordability and accessibility. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, prompting agencies to reevaluate services and expand affordable transit choices. These programs typically use a means-based eligibility approach and offer various benefits such as fare discounts, free rides, or discounted passes. While previous research documents the positive outcomes of low-income fare discount programs, including increased mobility for low-income riders, there is limited insight into how low-income fare programs are administered.

This synthesis documents the current state of the practice of low-income fare discount programs offered by North American transit agencies. The synthesis begins with a literature review of existing research on low-income discount programs. Then, findings from a survey examine the key program elements of 26 agencies and their partner organizations. Also presented are case examples of seven agencies with low-income fare discount programs. The synthesis concludes with identifying 10 key findings of the study and four areas for future research.

The study was led by Dr. Candace Brakewood of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with support from graduate student Matthew Davis. The study team conducted the literature review, collected and synthesized the data, and prepared the report. This synthesis serves as an immediately valuable resource for transit professionals, documenting current practices and laying a foundation for future research and innovation in transit fare policies.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Jun 2023 19:15:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2190463</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Fare Policies, Structures, and Technologies -- 2024 Updates</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2083652</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 10: Fare Policies, Structures, and Technologies (1995) explored developments and issues of fare policies, structures, and technologies. The report presented the experiences of transit agencies in selecting and using various approaches, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of emerging payment technologies.  Subsequently, TCRP Report 94: Fare Policies, Structures, and Technologies: Update (2003) provided a revision and update to TCRP Report 10. Since 2003, TCRP has managed research and published reports covering fare payment policies and programs, including fare-free transit, multimodal fare integration and fare capping. However, although the transit fare payment landscape has drastically changed, no major study has evaluated the state of fare policies, structures, and technologies.
Agencies need guidance and best practices on new ways of thinking about fares and fare products, including innovative concepts unlocked by the latest fare payment technologies. Since TCRP Report 94, technological innovations in open payments, mobile technology, near-field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, and cashless transactions offer opportunities to improve the ease of transit fare payment. 
OBJECTIVE:
The research objective is to update TCRP Report 94 and provide a comprehensive review of fares: policies, structures, products, payment technologies, and integrations. This will include summaries of and references to other TCRP publications on fare structures and technologies since TCRP Report 94.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:46:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2083652</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Seamless Transportation Services For the Greater Morgantown Area</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062452</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Monongalia Urban Mass Transit Authority on behalf of Mountain Line Transit Authority (MLTA), will receive funding to create an integrated fare payment system for riders of MLTA buses and West Virginia University's on-demand transit system and drivers using municipal parking lots in and around Morgantown, W.V. The unified payment will improve access to jobs and healthcare in Morgantown while providing contactless payment via an online, smart phone-enabled application.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:17:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062452</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Aiming High  Implementing App-Based, Inter-Agency Fare Purchase and Trip Planning in the Rocky Mountain West</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062437</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver will receive funding for a multi-modal trip platform to integrate RTD bus and rail with inter-city bus and microtransit travel services, allowing riders to plan for multimodal trips with integrated fare options.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:17:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062437</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Advancing Geofencing Functionality</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062435</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will receive funding to use GPS technology to enable free transit rides for passengers who use farecards and board at designated stops. Ridership and other data will inform future fare incentive programs, both in Rhode Island and nationally.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:17:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2062435</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>New Fare Payment Technology and Pricing Strategies for Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) </title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1938497</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The objective of this project is to evaluate new fare payment technologies and emerging pricing strategies in a step toward integrating transit into a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) ecosystem. The first part of this project includes a nationwide policy analysis and best practice review of fare capping, which is an emerging type of transit fare policy enabled by new payment technologies. This synthesis of fare capping practices will inform the second part of this project, which aims to evaluate technological aspects and potential pricing bundles of MaaS using surveys of transit riders. Surveys will be conducted in one or more city(ies) that have already made transit fare payment available through mobile phones and have some level of integration with shared and/or micromobility services. It is envisioned that the survey will have two primary sections. The first will be a revealed preference questionnaire evaluating existing payment technology options and existing pricing options for local shared and/or micromobility services. The second part of the survey will utilize stated preference methods to envision payment technology options and potential pricing bundles in the future. 
The results of the fare capping analysis will provide a comprehensive review of nationwide practices that can inform other transit agencies considering or planning for fare capping. The results of this survey will provide insight into the current and potential future behavior of transit riders in a MaaS ecosystem. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2022 14:30:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1938497</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>RES2021-15: University Transportation Center (UTC): Match Funds</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1886086</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The University of Tennessee was awarded a recent University Transportation Center (UTC) funding opportunity, working with Georgia Tech. This research initiative will synthesize current national trends, explore the variance in trends across contexts, and identify the strategic challenges and opportunities associated with positioning public transportation to prepare for the future.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 18 Oct 2021 09:30:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1886086</guid>
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