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https://www.nationalacademies.org/trb/events

Fare-Free Futures: The Diffusion of Youth Fare-Free Transit Programs in the U.S.

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.

Language

  • English

Project

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 02004831
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: National Center for Sustainable Transportation
  • Contract Numbers: DOT 69A3552348319, DOT 69A3552344814
  • Files: UTC, RIP
  • Created Date: Oct 1 2026 1:28PM