The latest research offers analysis and recommendations from a national survey of reduced fare programs; recommendations can help lead to better public health outcomes for commuters
NEW YORK, NY — SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 — Regional Plan Association (RPA), today announced the release of their latest report, “Reduced Fares: Lessons from Across the Country” at a Climate Week NYC panel. The latest research is an in-depth look at reduced or free fare transit programs from across the United States, specifically into how they help people whose economic circumstances make paying for public transit a financial burden. The report draws from interviews with transit workers, advocates, and experts from seven metropolitan regions to provide insights and lessons on how programs across the United States are approaching enrollment to make transit more affordable for their riders.
“For over 100 years, RPA has been committed to expanding mobility that connects the region and improving the quality of life and public health of our communities,” said Tom Wright, President and CEO of RPA. This report digs into the vital connection between transit service and health and well-being for vulnerable communities and provides important insights for policymakers looking to expand affordability.”
“Reduced fare programs are a direct investment in the people who need it to get to their jobs, health appointments, and social connections,” said Vanessa Barrios, co-author of the report and Director of DEI Initiatives at RPA. “By making enrollment easier, expanding eligibility, and ensuring people know these programs exist, trust in our transit systems can be re-established across the country. And when transit is made affordable to riders who are struggling with costs, it shows our transit authorities’ commitment to providing a safe and dependable ride to all, not just some.”
Key findings include:
There are 18 reduced fare transit programs across the United States, 14 of which have a higher income threshold requirement than the baseline 130% Federal Poverty Line (FPL).
Enrollment across many programs is low, with seven case study examples showing highest program participation rates at 50%.
A series of best practices, detailed below, aid several programs with addressing outreach and enrollment gaps.
Some programs have sought to investigate connections between transit affordability and health, which in the case of the MBTA’s program, led to the establishment of a reduced fare discount for riders, though the topic of health benefits across programs is largely unexplored.
Key recommendations from the report include:
Implement Wider Eligibility Thresholds to Reach More Riders: broadening income thresholds to a higher percentage of the federal poverty rate can qualify a greater number of people who struggle with transportation cost burdens but are excluded from limited income eligibility requirements.
Ease Processes Through Auto Enrollment and Auto Qualification: automated processes for registering people into programs eases the application constraints that prohibit enrollment.
Utilize Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to Reach Eligible Riders: partnerships with community-based organizations can address communication gaps between agencies and underserved communities who face barriers to enrollment.
Employ More Dynamic Outreach Efforts: implementation of multiple and creative methods of outreach can help further disseminate program information among eligible populations.
Evaluate Fair Fare Programs’ Effects on Community Health and Wellbeing: collaborative work between public transit agencies and research organizations can reveal potential health impacts and benefits of reduced fare programs.
“RPA’s excellent report lays out a framework for New York City’s mayor to tackle our affordability crisis head-on by expanding Fair Fares eligibility to at least 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, to Metro-North and the LIRR within New York City, and to increase participation through automatic enrollment,” said Lisa Daglian, Executive Director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA. “PCAC is proud to have fought alongside the Community Service Society and Riders Alliance to expand Fair Fares eligibility to more than 200,000 New Yorkers. However, as this report shows, much more work is needed to support the health and economic mobility of NYC’s low-income residents.”
“Here in Pittsburgh, we are proud to have led a successful six year organizing effort for the low-income transit fare program “Allegheny Go”, and one that structured to grow both ridership and transit system revenue,” said Laura Chu Wiens, Executive Director of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. “But we know that enacting the policy is not enough- riders and advocates need to be involved in ensuring that the enrollment and marketing of the program is robust so that it reaches all the riders that are eligible to participate.”
For more information on the “Reduced Fares,” please visit https://rpa.org/work/reports/reduced-fares
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About Regional Plan Association
Regional Plan Association (RPA) is an independent non-profit organization that conducts research, planning and advocacy to expand economic opportunity, environmental resiliency, improved health, and better quality of life in the New York metropolitan area. Since the 1920s, RPA has produced four landmark plans for the region. The most recent was released in November 2017. For more information, please visitwww.rpa.org.
