Transit pass incentive programs (e.g., deep discounting)
Transit pass incentive programs offer free or discounted passes for busses and other public transit to specific populations (e.g., employees, students, the elderly and people with disabilities). Under deep discounting, a transit agency sells unlimited access passes at significantly reduced prices to all members of a large organization.
Expected Beneficial Outcomes
Decreased emissions
Increased use of public transit
Reduced vehicle trips
Increased transit revenue
Evidence of Effectiveness
Transit pass incentive programs are a suggested strategy to reduce vehicle trips, vehicle miles traveled, and emissions (RAND-Sorenson 2008, Nuworsoo 2004). Available evidence suggests that these programs may also raise transportation revenue (RAND-Sorenson 2008, Nuworsoo 2004) and decrease transportation costs for employers, organizations, and individuals (RAND-Sorenson 2008, Myers 2006, Nuworsoo 2004). However, additional evidence is needed to confirm effects.
Transit pass incentive programs have been particularly successful in increasing transit use among college students (Myers 2006, Nuworsoo 2004). Other factors that increase the likelihood of using a transit pass include high gas prices, not having children, and having a flexible schedule or one that matches transit availability (Zhou 2011).
Impact on Disparities
Implementation Examples
Transit pass incentive programs for employers, students (primary and secondary), and state or city employees are available in many municipalities.
Citations - Evidence
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RAND-Sorenson 2008 - Sorenson P, Wachs M, Min EY, et al. Moving Los Angeles: Short-term policy options for improving transportation. Santa Monica: RAND Corporation; 2008: Monograph Report.
Myers 2006* - Myers G, Hagen DA, Russo T, et al. Benefits of campus transit pass: Study of student’s willingness to pay for proposed mandatory transit pass program. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2006;1971:133-9.
Nuworsoo 2004 - Nuworsoo CK. Deep discount group pass programs as instruments for increasing transit revenue and ridership. Berkeley: Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California Berkeley (UCB); 2004: UCB-ITS-DS-2004-2.
Zhou 2011* - Zhou J, Schweitzer L. Getting drivers to switch: Transit price and service quality among commuters. Journal of Urban Planning and Development. 2011;137(4):477-83.