Innovations and Best Practices in Transit Fare Enforcement

Public transportation systems are continuously evolving to accommodate growing urban populations and advancing technologies. A key component of these systems is fare policy, which affects revenue, efficiency, and passenger satisfaction. However, many transit agencies face challenges with fare enforcement, balancing passive and active approaches, and integrating new fare collection technologies. TCRP has a strong history of providing guidance on fare policies, with foundational reports like TCRP Report 10 (1995) and its update, TCRP Report 94 (2003), as well as more recent publications on fare payment systems. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, no major study has evaluated changes in fare policies and enforcement strategies. As some agencies experience increased fare evasion due to shifting post-pandemic behaviors, they face the challenge of justifying the costs of stricter fare enforcement while ensuring equitable access to public transit. The current landscape, shaped by social justice and equity considerations, underscores the need for best practices on fare enforcement that balance revenue generation with equitable access. Agencies are exploring innovative solutions, such as proof-of-payment systems and hybrid enforcement methods that combine both active and passive strategies. Additionally, the implementation of advanced fare technologies, installation of taller fare gates, highlights the potential for enhanced revenue and improved passenger experience. The objective of this research is to develop best practices and recommendations for transit fare policy, focusing on fare enforcement.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5824
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $300000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project A-54

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Transit Cooperative Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20001

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Garcia-Colberg, Mariela

• Start Date: 20241125
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Equity; Fare collection; Fares; Law enforcement; Policy; Public transit
• Subject Areas: Finance; Law; Policy; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01937961
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project A-54
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Nov 25 2024 11:25PM