WeGo officials described a low-income fare program — branded LIFT during development — that staff said aims to provide free transit access to residents who demonstrate financial need or who are enrolled in qualifying benefit programs.

Amanda Vandegrift, a WeGo presenter, said the program team set a goal “to aim to provide free transit service to Davidson County residents who need it the most.” She said the design goals include maximizing access for eligible customers, keeping enrollment simple, minimizing abuse and collecting data to refine the program.

WeGo staff said they are considering income-based prequalification (industry peers commonly use 200% of the federal poverty level), verification via enrollment in existing benefit programs, and partner agencies that could register participants. The team proposed using WeGo’s existing fare card infrastructure with a free initial card and $5 replacement fee, and recommended three-year rolling re-verification of eligibility to limit improper use.

Staff said the program would incorporate existing initiatives such as connector cards for people transitioning from homelessness and cold-weather emergency cards, and they said those cards would be transitioned into the LIFT program. WeGo said it would host two stakeholder workshops in June to widen partner input and planned a phased or soft launch of targeted partners in late summer, with full program rollout targeted for November of this year.

WeGo asked advisory members for recommendations on additional partner organizations to include in outreach and registration workshops and invited disability, senior and refugee service agencies to take part in June stakeholder sessions.