WeGo outlines Journey Pass to give free rides to eligible Davidson County residents; soft launches with partner verification planned

WeGo staff presented a phased plan on the Journey Pass program designed to provide free transit to Davidson County residents who demonstrate need and to begin limited soft launches through partner organizations.

Amanda (WeGo staff member) told the Nashville MTA board the Journey Pass, previously referred to in drafts as the LIFT program, was announced by Mayor Freddie O’Connell as one of the Choose How You Move projects funded by the county referendum and that staff have worked with internal and external partners through the spring and summer to define goals and rollout steps.

The program’s stated goal is “to provide free transit services to Davidson County residents who need it the most,” Amanda said. Staff described three design goals: maximizing access for eligible users, simplifying administration for both customers and program partners, and minimizing abuse while protecting legitimate use.

Under the proposed design, the Journey Pass would be a ticket type within the agency’s existing Quick Ticket system. A Journey Pass would provide free fares on MTA bus services, WeGoLink and WeGo Star services and on RTA bus base fares; staff told the board the pass would not include WeGo Access on-demand paratransit or RTA vanpool services. Journey Passes would be tied to an individual by name and date of birth and loaded onto a Quick Ticket account or a newly issued Quick Ticket if a rider lacked one.

For rollout, staff described a two-phase approach. The initial soft-launch phase would distribute passes through partner organizations that verify eligibility for their clients, including the mayor’s office Choose How You Move team, the Metropolitan Action Commission, Metro Social Services, Metro Schools’ HERO program, the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA), and the Office of Homeless Services. An expansion phase later this year or next would open an online portal through HUB Nashville and an in-person registration option at WeGoCentral for residents not served by partner organizations.

Amanda said staff are intentionally starting with partner verification to limit administrative burden and to monitor operational and financial impacts before a full public rollout. “We feel this is really less risky and more conservative so that we can . . . monitor the program and make adjustments in real time based on the data we’re seeing,” she said. Staff listed items they will track, including pass distribution and verification workflows, changes in ridership (new riders versus existing riders), WeGo Access demand, safety and security needs, and impacts to the Choose How You Move revenue stream.

Staff indicated reimbursement will follow the board-approved fare policy at $2 per ride funded through Choose How You Move; they cautioned the program is likely to reduce traditional farebox revenue in proportion to use. Staff also said connector cards and cold-weather cards that currently lack associated farebox revenue would be funded through the Journey Pass program over time.

Staff emphasized privacy and stigma concerns: passes would appear and function like standard Quick Ticket media when tapped, and agency staff are exploring methods so the Quick Ticket response does not flag a rider as a Journey Pass holder to others. The agency also plans to enforce the MTA Code of Conduct and to temporarily suspend passes for code violations.

Amanda said staff are developing memoranda of understanding with the mayor’s office and partners and plan two board action items in October—a MOU action and a board policy governing the program. The agency’s Title VI analysis will accompany winter service-change work. Amanda said staff have not finalized every detail, including the prospective length of eligibility; a three-year certification cycle was discussed but has not been adopted.

Board members asked about data management, re‑certification timing, whether households could include dependents aged 5–18, and how partner programs will be mapped to automatic eligibility. Amanda said partners will help define which of their programs and clients qualify automatically in the soft-launch phase and that WeGo will administer the later public application option through its customer service portals.

Next steps listed by staff included finalizing MOUs, returning in October with the two action items, continuing partner onboarding, running small tests with partners, and monitoring outcomes before any broader expansion.

While staff sought feedback and next-step approval to proceed to soft launches with partners, the Board did not take a formal vote on the Journey Pass program at this meeting; staff said formal approvals will be requested in October.

Ending: Staff told the board they intend to begin partner testing in the weeks ahead and will return with required policy and MOU actions next month for the board’s approval.