Martin County's Marty goes fare-free after Nov. 4 vote; ridership jumps about 30''35%

Martin County's bus system Marty stopped charging fares after a board majority voted on Nov. 4, 2025, and county officials say the change produced a notable increase in usage.

"So on 11/04/2025, a board majority voted to remove the fares from the Marty bus," Martin County Transit Administrator Ash Beecher said. "They are enjoying it. They're loving it." Beecher told podcast hosts that in December 2025—the first full month after the change—Marty provided about 13,000 unlinked passenger trips and the system saw roughly a 30''35% jump in ridership hours compared with the same month the prior year.

County officials say the fare-free policy was modeled on neighboring counties that eliminated fares and that the change has improved customer experience and access for riders who otherwise might not use transit in colder weather or for short trips.

Funding for Marty is a mix of federal and state grants plus local dollars. Beecher said most operating funds come from annual federal and state apportionments, with local funding covering about one-third of costs; many grant programs also tie awards to measured ridership.

The county uses a purchase-of-transportation model, contracting operations to a third-party vendor that handles vehicles and drivers. Beecher said the new operations partner has experience running services in nearby Indian River County and that the county expects ridership gains to support future grant applications.

Officials say they are monitoring passenger volumes and looking at service changes and stop additions to meet demand. No further formal board actions were reported in the episode; Beecher framed the move as an implemented policy change rather than a pending vote.

The county did not provide a detailed budget breakdown for the incremental operating cost of going fare-free during the interview.