In a recent government meeting, officials celebrated a notable increase in public transit ridership, highlighting the success of the FAST (Fairfield and Suisun Transit) services. The mayor expressed gratitude to community members for their engagement and support, emphasizing the positive impact of their involvement.

The meeting included a public hearing on proposed changes to the fare structure for FAST's fixed route local service. Diane, a key presenter, outlined two significant recommendations aimed at enhancing transit accessibility and efficiency. The first proposal is to implement free fares for youth aged 6 to 18 on FAST fixed routes, a move designed to restore ridership levels to pre-pandemic figures. This initiative follows successful implementations in other regions, such as Solano County Transit, which reported a 62% increase in youth ridership after introducing free fares.

The second recommendation involves transitioning to a cashless system, accepting only Clipper cards and paratransit passes. This change is in line with a regional mandate and aims to streamline operations while reducing costs associated with cash handling. The transition is expected to save the city approximately $30,000 annually and avoid the need for costly new fare boxes, projected to save around $7 million.

Both proposals are set to be implemented on December 1st, contingent on the current suspension of fare box recovery requirements, which mandates that transit agencies cover 20% of their expenses through fares. If these requirements are reinstated, FAST will provide advance notice to the community regarding any changes to the fare structure.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for public comments, as officials remain committed to engaging with the community on these important transit developments.