Quick-Response Research on Long-Term Strategic Issues. Task 56. Transit Fare Programs for High School and Postsecondary Students
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.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Programmed
- Funding: $125,000.00
-
Contract Numbers:
Project J-11, Task 56
-
Sponsor Organizations:
Federal Transit Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)
Transportation Research Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Project Managers:
Schwager, Dianne
- Start Date: 20260908
- Expected Completion Date: 0
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: College students; Fares; High school students; Ridership; State of the practice
- Geographic Terms: United States
- Subject Areas: Finance; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01973736
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
- Contract Numbers: Project J-11, Task 56
- Files: TRB, RIP
- Created Date: Dec 8 2025 8:08PM