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Memphis council backs a rolling 30-day zero-fare transit pilot with a $2 million cap
Summary
Council members approved sending a resolution downstairs to develop a zero-fare transit pilot and a ridership-tracking system, accepting a friendly amendment from Councilman Carlisle to make the pilot a rolling 30-day study that may continue in 30-day increments up to a $2 million fiscal cap.
The City Council considered a resolution supporting development of a zero-fare transit pilot and encouraging the Memphis Area Transit Authority to implement a ridership-tracking system. Sponsor Councilwoman Janika White introduced the measure during a full-council session.
Councilman Harold Carlisle offered a friendly amendment to make the pilot a rolling 30-day study that the council could extend in successive 30-day increments, with a fiscal cap not to exceed $2,000,000. Carlisle said a single 30-day snapshot might be insufficient to capture seasonality and suggested the rolling structure would let councilors monitor outcomes without exceeding the fiscal cap.
Council members discussed what the $2,000,000 represented — Carlisle explained it as potential lost fare revenue or offset needed to operate routes fare-free for the study period — and agreed the pilot should proceed while allowing council authority to extend or end the program. Several members signed on as cosponsors and the measure was sent downstairs with the accepted amendment and same-night minutes.
