NTL Record

Title Transit Fare Prepayment
Record ID 49490
Personal Name
Creator
Hershey, W. R.; Forkenbrock, D. J.; Berla, M. J.; Miller, B. A.; Dewey, M.E
Source 188p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. Urban Mass Transportation Administration
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. Urban Mass Transportation Administration
Publication Date 19760801
Language English
Abstract Fare prepayment encompasses all methods of paying for transit rides other than by cash, namely, tickets, tokens, punch cards, passes, and permits. The purpose of this study is the examination of the overall ridership and revenue impacts of ongoing and completed prepayment programs. The study examines past and current experience with fare prepayment programs and draws conclusions concerning their potential. The major objectives of this study are the following: (1) To survey ongoing and completed transit fare prepayment programs; (2) to identify key features and problems related to prepayment; (3) to measure public response to fare prepayment; (4) to assess advantages and market potential of fare prepayment; (5) to analyze cost-effectiveness of fare prepayment; and (6) to identify the best application of and implementation structures for fare prepayment. This study examines past and current experience with fare prepayment and draws conclusions concerning their potential. The major objectives of this study are 1) to survey ongoing and completed transit fare prepayment programs; 2) to identify key features and problems related to prepayment; 3) to measure public response to fare prepayment; 4) to assess advantages and market potential of fare prepayment; 5) to analyze cost-effectiveness of fare prepayment; 6) to identify the best application of and implementation structures for fare prepayment. To achieve these objectives, three separate and complementary approaches are utilized: 1) a history and background that traces transit fare prepayment as far back as 1860 and follows its development through to the current state of the art; 2) a survey of 146 U.S. transit operators and 3) discussion of transit user attitudes. The Appendices contain questionnaires, samplings, and tabulations of survey responses and rankings of the selected transit systems. This study concludes that fare prepayment can be an important element of a transit system's marketing program, both for attracting and holding riders and for building the system's image.
Rosap ID dot:10932
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10932
TRT Terms Attitudes; Cost effectiveness; Fares; Impacts; Market research; Methodology; Needs assessment; Payment; Prices; Public transit; Punched cards; Revenues; Ridership; Tickets; Tokens; Urban transportation
General Subjects User needs
Classification NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION;
NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Transit Economics and Finances;
NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Transit Planning and Policy;
NTL - ECONOMICS AND FINANCE - ECONOMICS AND FINANCE;
NTL - ECONOMICS AND FINANCE - Transit Economics and Finance
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Contract Number DOT-TSC-1056
Report Number DOT-TSC-UMTA-76-7; UMTA-MA-06-0049-76-3
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/49000/49400/49490/DOT-TSC-UMTA-76-07.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository