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Board adopts fare-modernization plan after lengthy debate over equity and transfers
Summary
After a multi-hour discussion the board approved a fare-modernization policy that moves the system toward electronic fare media, fare capping and reduced-fare expansions while phasing out paper transfers; trustees expressed concerns about cash-paying riders, senior eligibility changes and charging the streetcar.
The board voted to adopt a fare-modernization policy that will shift the authority toward predominantly electronic fare media — reloadable fare cards and mobile payments — expand fare capping and reduced-fare eligibility, and eliminate paper transfer issuance for cash riders. Staff said the package is aimed at simplifying fares, reducing fare evasion and enabling new discounting mechanisms for eligible riders.
Staff briefed trustees on operational details: implementation will require new on-vehicle validators and platform equipment and is expected to take about 12–18 months. The cost estimate discussed in the meeting was roughly $5 million for equipment, software and installation; staff said final quotes were being finalized. Under the adopted policy, cash riders may purchase a reloadable fare card at retail locations and then receive transfer benefits; paying cash for single rides will not generate electronic transfers.
Trustees and public commenters pressed staff on equity implications. Several trustees warned the change could disadvantage riders without smartphones or bank accounts, including low-income riders, those experiencing homelessness and older riders. Staff said Title VI and service-equity analyses were completed and that outreach plans, retail distribution of fare cards, and community pop-ups would be part of rollout; they also said multilingual materials would be provided as required by Title VI.
A highly contested piece of the debate was whether to begin charging a fare on the streetcar immediately. A motion to exclude the streetcar from the fare policy temporarily failed; the board ultimately approved the policy as written, with a commitment to provide updates and a six-month operations-and-safety and finance committee review after implementation begins to monitor customer impacts and transfer issues.
Trustees asked staff to report back on specific implementation milestones, the signal-prioritization timeline that affects Gold/Goal Line performance, and outreach measures to ensure fare card access for youth and low-income riders. The chair emphasized that approval begins the procurement and programming necessary for the systemwide modernization but does not remove follow-up oversight by the board.
