Petaluma Transit Eliminates Fares

The San Francisco Bay Area city of Petaluma will offer fare-free bus transit as part of a one-year pilot program, according to reporting by KTVU. “City leaders say the goal is to help people learn about public transit, remove cost barriers, and meet the city's climate goals.”

Petaluma Transit eliminated fare collection as of July 1 with the goal of increasing ridership and better serving low-income riders. The program also includes paratransit services. “This groundbreaking initiative allows paratransit riders to use both fixed-route bus services and paratransit services for free, expanding access to those with fixed or limited incomes.”

According to the agency, “Revenue collected from the fare box account for less than 10% of Petaluma Transit’s operating budget. When considering the operational costs of processing fare payments, managing fare box disputes, and producing and selling passes, the savings became evident. The benefits of a fare-free system to our community far outweigh the barriers created by fares.”