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Athens free-fare pilot funded by AmeriHealth Caritas for one year; on-demand service included
Summary
HapCap and Athens Public Transit have launched a one-year free-fare program sponsored by AmeriHealth Caritas that covers fixed-route buses and Athens On Demand countywide service, officials said at the April 28 council transportation committee meeting.
Ben Ziff, mobility coordinator for Athens and Hocking Counties at HapCap, told the Athens City Council transportation committee on April 28 that a private sponsorship will cover fares on Athens Public Transit and Athens On Demand for one year.
The pilot is “sponsored by AmeriHealth Caritas,” Ziff said, and the free-fare pass covers both fixed-route buses and the on-demand service. Ziff said community free-fare cards have been distributed to libraries around Athens County and that drivers are carrying additional passes for riders who do not yet have one. “There are free fares for an entire year,” he said.
Why it matters: Committee members and attendees pressed for details about residency rules, metrics and long-term viability. Ziff said the passes are available to anyone — residents and visitors alike — and that Ohio University students, faculty and staff still may ride using their OU ID as before. He also said the transit system will try to track awareness of the sponsor and may conduct short onboard surveys to inform renewal discussions.
Support and next steps: Ziff said the private contribution can serve as local match to attract additional Federal Transit Administration funds: “We’re a 50/50. We can use that to pull down matching federal funds,” he said. He also said line 6 service will be restructured into two bidirectional variants, 6A and 6B, because bidirectional routing is more functional than looped routes. Ziff highlighted ongoing ADA ramp construction at stops around the city as improving access for riders.
Service details and special programs: Ziff confirmed Athens On Demand service is countywide — trips that originate and end within Athens County remain eligible — and noted an Ohio DD Council grant allows certain disability-related out-of-county trips to be provided at no cost. He said on-demand fares previously ran about $2 each direction and are now free under the sponsorship.
Outlook: Ziff said HapCap will monitor usage and try to negotiate potential extensions, including possible expansion into nearby Hocking County with Logan Public Transit. Committee members did not vote on any legislation during the presentation; the item was informational.
