The Fare Study
Objective: Simplify RTD’s fare policy in an
equitable and cost-effective manner to better serve
the needs of the District and its customers moving
forward
Goals:
1. Simplicity (ease of use)
2. Acceptability/Marketability
(implementable)
3. Affordability/Equity (cost of service
and relationship between modes
and services)
1
Farebox Revenue by Payment Type
Sales & Use Tax
60%
Other Income
2%
Non-Profit Agency
Reduced Fare Passes
2%
10-Ride Tickets
11%
College Pass
12%
Cash
34%
Farebox
Revenue
22%
EcoPass
18%
Grants
16%
Monthly Passes
23%
2
RTD Fare History 1999 – 2014
Local, Express and Regional
$5.00 $5.00
$5.00
$5.00
$4.00 $4.00 $4.00
$4.00
$5.00
$4.50
$4.50
$4.00
$3.75 $3.75 $3.75 $3.75
$4.00
$3.50 $3.50
$3.00
$3.00
$3.50 $3.50
$3.00
$3.00
Regional
$2.75 $2.75 $2.75 $2.75
$3.00
Express
$2.50 $2.50
Local anytime
$2.25
$2.00 $2.00 $2.00
$2.25 $2.25 $2.25
$2.00 $2.00
$2.00
Local Peak
Local Off-Peak
$1.75
$1.50 $1.50
$1.25 $1.25 $1.25
$1.00
$1.10 $1.15
$1.25 $1.25
$0.75 $0.75 $0.75
$-
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
3
Current Fares
BUS
Local/Limited
Express
Regional
SkyRide
RAIL
1 or 2 Zones
3 Zones
All Zones
n/a
PRICE
$2.25
$4.00
$5.00
$9/$11/$13
Route HX
Boulder
US 36 &
McCaslin
Denver
Boulder
Local
Express
Regional
US 36 &
McCaslin
Express
--
Regional
Denver
Regional
Regional
--
Fare Table for the HX Regional Route. Fare tables
are currently used on all Regional and SkyRide
routes.
Current Light Rail Fare Zone map
4
Staff Recommendation
Pay per Boarding with a 2x Day Pass:
• Fare Simplification
– Make Day Passes available on the bus;
continue selling Day Passes from Ticket
Vending Machines at rail stations
– Reduce price of the Day Pass to 2x the cash
fare and eliminate transfers
– Eliminate Rail zones
– Eliminate Distance Based Fares on Bus
Routes; price based on Service Type (Local,
Express, Regional)
5
Staff Recommendation
Pay per Boarding with a 2x Day Pass:
• Fare levels that meet the RTD 2016
revenue target:
– Local/Rail: $2.60 single boarding, $5.20 Day
Pass
– Express Bus: $4.50 single boarding, $9 Day
Pass
– Regional Bus: $5.50 single boarding, $11 Day
Pass
– Airport (Bus or Rail): $10 single boarding (or
Regional Pass accepted for Airport trips)
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Staff Recommendation Details
• Local, Express, and Regional monthly passes priced at
40 boardings
• 25¢ discount on single boardings when paying with
stored value (smart card)
• Federally mandated half-fare discount required for
seniors 65+, Medicare recipients and persons with
disabilities during the off-peak period
– Continue to extend discount to all time periods and to students
ages 6-19
– Staff recommendation extends the discount to the day pass
– Continue to apply the half fare discount to monthly passes
• Continue to price Access-a-Ride fares at twice the
comparable fixed route fare
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Staff Recommendation Summary
Rail Structure Summary
Rail
DIA
Single Boarding
$2.60
$10
Day Pass
$5.20
$11.00
Monthly Pass
$104
$220
Bus Structure Summary
Local/Limited
Express
Regional
DIA
Single Boarding
$2.60
$4.50
$5.50
$10
Day Pass
$5.20
$9.00
$11.00
$11.00
Monthly Pass
$104
$180
$220
$220
• Simplification
–
–
–
–
No Rail Zones
No Distance Based Fares on Bus Routes
No Transfers
Day Pass available on the bus
8