Potential Updates to Fare Programs
CapMetro wants to make our fares more equitable. We know that low-income customers, who depend on our services the most, tend to pay for their transit passes one trip at a time instead of taking advantage of the savings that come with day or monthly passes.
To bring those savings to more of our customers, we are recommending two potential fare changes that will require board approval: fare capping and an additional discounted fare category. Fare capping and Equifare would help protect affordability for low-income customers should CapMetro ever raise overall fare prices. We’ll accomplish this through an updated fare payment system built into a new CapMetro App and a physical smart card.
View the Presentation
View a recent Community Info Session below to learn more about the proposed fare programs
Program Feedback
We are actively seeking community feedback to help us develop best practices to reduce barriers for the roll out of the proposed fare programs, including:
- Account enrollment
- Eligibility considerations for Equifare
- Implementation and engagement opportunities
- Partner programs and community organizations
- Ways to reduce community impact
Upcoming Meetings
CapMetro is starting a community engagement and education effort on potential new fare programs, which will go to the board for review as early as May. We hope that you can join us as we collect feedback and input on proposed fare changes.
Community Info Sessions
Wednesday, June 29, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
In-person Meeting at 624 N. Pleasant Valley Rd, 78702
*Food will be provided*
Wednesday, July 13, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Virtual Meeting – Register Here
Zoom Webinar with Streaming on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube
Spanish translation will be provided
Nonprofit & Agency Info Sessions
Thursday, July 14, 10:30 am-11:30 am
Virtual Meeting – Register Here
Zoom Webinar
Proposed Fare Programs Overview
Below you can read about our proposed fare programs to better serve our growing population, including fare capping, Equifare, and a new account-based system to house them both called AMP. We encourage you to share your input on the programs and enrollment process considerations on our Program Feedback page. Your feedback will inform our program implementation.
New Account-Based Fare System
The new fare payment system will require customers to register for what we’re calling an Amp account to access its full potential.
They will use Amp to add cash value on their new CapMetro App or smart card. Customers will be able to tap their Amp card or scan their phone to pay a fare. Fare capping is a feature built into every transaction that uses Amp.
Fare Capping
With fare capping, customers using Amp never pay more than the total cost of a Day Pass in a calendar day, or the total cost of a monthly pass in a calendar month. It allows customers to pay for one trip at a time and still receive the savings of a Day Pass or monthly pass.
Equifare - A New Discounted Fare
CapMetro currently provides two fare types: Standard and Reduced Fares. We are proposing a new discounted fare type called Equifare, similar to programs already being used in Dallas and Portland.
Customers must meet eligibility requirements for the Equifare rate. Currently, we are looking into using requirements similar to the city of Austin’s Customer Assistance Program, such as the household income limit of 200% of the Federal Poverty Level or enrollment in one of several assistance programs.
As of now, here are our proposed discounted rates for Equifare passes:
| CURRENT FARE TYPES | PROPOSED* | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PASS TYPE | Standard | Reduced | Equifare | |
| Local Bus | Single Ride | $1.25 | $0.60 | $1.00 |
| Day Pass | $2.50 | $1.25 | $2.00 | |
| Month Pass | $41.25 | $20.60 | $33.00 | |
| Commuter Bus + Rail | Single Ride | $3.50 | $1.75 | $3.00 |
| Day Pass | $7.00 | $3.50 | $6.00 | |
| Month Pass | $96.25 | $48.10 | $77.00 | |
* Proposed rates are being used to perform a Title VI analysis.
Title VI Analysis
We believe this new fare category will increase equity in our community. CapMetro is concluding a federally required Title VI analysis to understand how fare capping and Equifare
could affect communities of color and low-income population. We will share the results of that analysis and host a public hearing before bringing any fare structure changes to the board.
At the same time, our Community Engagement team will be meeting with community stakeholders and collecting input on these programs, which will include proposed eligibility requirements and the process for registration.
When Could the Changes Take Place?
CapMetro expects to ask for board approval of these new programs (Equifare and fare capping) as early as May. Our presentation to the board would include a summary of the Title VI analysis and of the community response to that analysis, along with public
input received on the proposed changes in fare programs.
The Amp account system may be ready to release to customers by the fall. Once account registration is made available and we’ve begun distribution of Amp cards to the public, CapMetro’s Community Engagement team will perform extensive community outreach including in-person events, community partnerships and street team activations to sign up customers on the spot.