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Fountain Transit to Offer Zero-Fare Rides June–August; Council OKs Rider Survey on Holiday Service
Summary
City transit staff said a Colorado Energy Office grant covers three months of zero-fare service in June, July and August. Council gave staff informal approval to survey riders about running a reduced (“Saturday”) schedule on select city holidays and asked staff to return with results.
Transit staff told the Fountain City Council on May 13 that the city has secured a Colorado Energy Office grant to operate zero-fare local transit for three months — June through August — and that ridership substantially increases during those months.
The presentation described the summer program as a fourth consecutive year of grant-funded zero-fare service and said the award covers fares for June 1 through Aug. 31. “This year, we were approved for June, July, and August, so we'll have 3 months where we will not collect fares at all,” Transit staff said.
Council members and staff also discussed a proposal to run a reduced Saturday-level schedule on some city holidays (for example, Juneteenth or Veterans Day) rather than suspending service entirely. Transit staff described a typical Saturday schedule as about nine hours of service with fewer drivers and one dispatcher on duty, compared with the normal weekday staffing level. Staff estimated the incremental cost of running the Saturday schedule on a holiday at roughly $1,000 per day and said summer fare reimbursements help offset that cost.
Council asked staff to put a short online survey to riders (via QR codes posted on buses and at shelters) to determine which holidays riders would value for reduced service. The council’s direction was procedural: staff should field the survey, report results to council, and return with a proposed agenda item if further action is warranted. There was no formal vote; council members indicated informal agreement for the survey to proceed.
Transit staff said the zero-fare summer program has produced positive rider feedback and pronounced ridership gains during the free months. Staff also said holiday schedule pilots would be voluntary for drivers and that they expect to recruit volunteers to cover holiday shifts so that overtime and equity concerns can be managed.
What’s next: Transit will publish the rider survey and return to council with results and a recommended schedule or policy for holidays.
