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Form #: B-52 <br /> 7/18/91 <br /> DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE <br /> REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br /> DEPARTMENT: Mass Transit Agency DATE: 6/22/2022 <br /> STAFF CONTACT: John Andoh PHONE: 961-8555 <br /> A. REQUEST: <br /> Ordinance to suspend the collection of fares as defined in Chapter 18, Section 18-90. <br /> B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED): <br /> Since when the pandamic started in 2020, there has been many transit agencies that has gone fare free as a <br /> way to rebuild ridership and to keep front line employees safe from direct interactions with passemhers. FTA <br /> has allowed transit agencies to uses Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), <br /> Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSSA) and American Rescue <br /> Plan Act of 2021 (ARP)funds to cover transit operational costs, which includes the suspension of fares, as <br /> long as the the funds used pays for transt operations. Staff requests suspension of fares ending December <br /> 31, 2025 using the ARP funds to cover the loss in $560,000 in passengers. A previous Council action <br /> authorized the suspension of fares using the CRRSSA funds through December 31, 2023. <br /> The suspension of fares can continue the opportunity for the County to rebuild the Hele-On over ridership <br /> lost over the past decade due to unreliable schedules, fleet, other operational and administrative challenges <br /> and the COVID-19 pandamic. In FY 2009 when the County had a fare free system, ridership jumped from <br /> 800,000 passenger trips to 1.2 million passenger trips by FY 2013 when the program had ended and fares <br /> were restored. Passenger trips has since declined to 290,000. With the implementation of the Transit and <br /> Multi-Modal Transportation Master Plan on September 5, 2021, it is anticipated that going fare free can <br /> anticipate ridership growth initially by 5 to 30% The issues at the Mass Transit Agency regarding cash <br /> handling exposure would be significantly reduced. Transit systems that recently went fare free since 2020 <br /> are: Burlington and Chapel Hill, NC, Missoula, MT, Olympia, WA and Kansas City, KS. Some benefits <br /> created by fare free includes: helps create a quality community and connects people to opportunity, drives <br /> the economy through employement, substantially increases transit ridership, removes barriers to using <br /> transit, less vehicle congestion and improved air quality. <br /> SIGNED: DATE: 6/26/2022 <br /> Department Head <br />