One city moves to eliminate bus fare; could Hamilton do the same?
Published December 10, 2019 at 9:42 pm
What if anyone at any time could hop on and off the bus without paying a single dime?
Kansas City, Mo. is close to doing just that.
What if anyone at any time could hop on and off the bus without paying a single dime?
Kansas City, Mo. is close to doing just that.
The city council just voted unanimously (13-0) to pass a historic resolution to make all fixed-route public transportation fare-free within. It’s called “Zero Fare Transit” and the move will mean lost revenue of “$8 million to $9 million a year from bus fares”, according to local news station, KSHB.
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Why would a municipality be so willing to lose that much revenue? Simple. They’re playing the long game.
Free transit means a higher quality of life for residents, less stress on infrastructure with fewer vehicles on the road, and of course, less stress on the environment.
Kansas City council is confident the move will improve the local economy in the long-run.
Thank you @KCMO City Council. This is going to improve the lives of so many and help fuel the local economy. #ZeroFareTransit https://t.co/z3eZgQbtfl
— RideKC (@RideKCTransit) December 5, 2019
Kansas City has a population of just under 500,000 and more than 2.3 million in the metropolitan area.
“City council still needs to work out details of the proposal, including how it will be funded and where that money will come from”, according to KSHB.
A trip on a Kansas City bus costs $1.50 USD per ride or $50 for a monthly pass.
In Hamilton, HSR fare can cost you anywhere from $2.05 to $3.25 per single ride or $110 per month for an adult PRESTO pass.
Fares were hiked earlier this year as part of the Ten Year (2015-2024) Local Transit Strategy, so it’s unlikely Hamilton will follow in the footsteps of KC anytime soon.
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