Title: The High Cost of Flat Fares: An Examination of Ridership Demographics and Fare Policy at the Los Angeles MTA
Author(s): Luhrsen, Kurt F. and Brian D. Taylor
Published: 1997 by Institute of Transportation Studies, UCLA
Online Access: http://www.uctc.net/papers/703.pdf
Abstract: The Los Angeles COunty Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) currently uses a flat fare structure, with several types of special passes, to collect passenger revenues. The fare structure is termed "flat" because each passenger pays the same base fare regardless of time, direction, or distance of travel. This analysis of MTA's ridership demographics shows that thsi fare structure is neither efficient effective, nor equitable, though it does offer some operational simplicity. Typically transit dependents -- riders who are more likely poor, non-white, young or old and female -- make short trips, more non-work trups, and use regular monthly passes less than other comparable passenger groups. As a result, these transit dependent groups, on average, pay relatively more for transit service on a per mile basis, while covering a larger portion of the costs of providing the service, than do choice (or discretionary) riders. This report suggests that switching to a differentiated fare structure, where fares vary by mode, time of day, and/or distance traveled, could improve cost efficiency by more closely matching fares to the actual cost of service provision, increase service effectiveness by increased short distance and off-peak travel, and increase social equity by substantially reducing the cross-subsidy of higher-income riders by lower-income riders.
Category: Transportation Finance Travel Demographics
See other articles by the author(s): Brian D. Taylor Kurt F. Luhrsen
Author(s): Luhrsen, Kurt F. and Brian D. Taylor
Published: 1997 by Institute of Transportation Studies, UCLA
Online Access: http://www.uctc.net/papers/703.pdf
Abstract: The Los Angeles COunty Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) currently uses a flat fare structure, with several types of special passes, to collect passenger revenues. The fare structure is termed "flat" because each passenger pays the same base fare regardless of time, direction, or distance of travel. This analysis of MTA's ridership demographics shows that thsi fare structure is neither efficient effective, nor equitable, though it does offer some operational simplicity. Typically transit dependents -- riders who are more likely poor, non-white, young or old and female -- make short trips, more non-work trups, and use regular monthly passes less than other comparable passenger groups. As a result, these transit dependent groups, on average, pay relatively more for transit service on a per mile basis, while covering a larger portion of the costs of providing the service, than do choice (or discretionary) riders. This report suggests that switching to a differentiated fare structure, where fares vary by mode, time of day, and/or distance traveled, could improve cost efficiency by more closely matching fares to the actual cost of service provision, increase service effectiveness by increased short distance and off-peak travel, and increase social equity by substantially reducing the cross-subsidy of higher-income riders by lower-income riders.
Category: Transportation Finance Travel Demographics
See other articles by the author(s): Brian D. Taylor Kurt F. Luhrsen