Sustaining Zero-Fare Public Transit in a Post COVID-19 World: Conduct of Research Report (2024)
Chapter: PHASE III - PRACTITIONER-READY TOOL AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
PHASE III—PRACTITIONER-READY TOOL AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
Task 6. Development of a Tool, Communications Strategies, and Phase III Report
Introduction
The objective of this task was to incorporate the findings from Phases I and II into a tool designed for use by practitioners.
Approach
An Excel-based spreadsheet tool was developed. The intent of the tool is to provide a format and process for the analysis of fare-free operation in terms of both quantitative (cost/ridership) and qualitative (equity/security/etc.) aspects. The tool does not provide a decision recommendation. Rather, it provides information with which an informed decision can be made. The tool is agnostic so as to provide a full picture of the potential costs and benefits of fare-free operation.
The intended audience for the tool is state DOTs and transit agencies faced with the decision to initiate, continue, or cease fare-free operations. While the tool is very comprehensive, there are several factors to consider in its application to ensure the best information is derived to inform the decision-making process.
In addition to the tool, the research team developed a communication strategies document, which was designed to offer guidance to users in selecting the most cost-effective, high-leverage communications and outreach strategies, tactics, and activities to build a customized/localized communications plan that will successfully convey the fare-free evaluation knowledge base, assist in communicating the approach if the evaluation outcome for fare-free transit is negative, and maximize the implementation of fare-free transit if that is considered the best solution.
Deliverables
The research team submitted the Excel-based practitioner-ready tool and its user guide (see attached project documents), as well as the fare-free communications implementation plan (CIP). The Excel-based tool is available on the project site, and Appendix D presents the CIP. The research team submitted the Phase III report and an annotated outline of the Phase IV plan.
