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SAN MARCOS TRANSIT PLAN I FINALREPORT <br />City of San Marcos <br />Eliminating on -board fare collection is an operating practice that more transit agencies across the <br />United States are adopting. While different agencies call it differentthings (e.g., prepaid fares, <br />fare free transit), it means the same thing: no fares are collected when passengers board the <br />transit vehicle. Agencies that institute this practice compensate for the loss offare revenue in a <br />variety of ways, including implementation of a dedicated funding source, sponsorship, or <br />contributions from a municipality's general fund. <br />This practice has a wide range of costs andbenefits. Some of the benefits for this practice include <br />the following. It is important to notethatwhile it is alsopossibleto realize travel time and dwell <br />time savings throughthis practice, in manyinstances, the corresponding ridership increase often <br />negates anyinitialtime savingsthatis experienced. <br />■ Removes a negative barrier to usingthetransit system, thus encouraging newpeopleto <br />try transit and for existing riders to use the system as much as theyneed without <br />worrying aboutbeing ableto afford each ride <br />■ Integrates social equityin transportation, by providing transportation benefits to people <br />that may need it most for accessing employment and school opportunities <br />■ Eliminates conflicts at the farebox and associated assaults on the bus operator <br />■ Increases ridership of the service, thus making the existing system more productive <br />■ Reduces operatingcosts associated with processing fares, issuing passes, andmaintaining <br />fareboxes <br />■ Reduces capital costs withvehicle procurement by eliminating the needto purchase <br />fareboxes <br />Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 14-1 <br />