REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, Assistant City Manager
Interim Director
Department of Transportation
BY: CAROLINA ILIC, Planning Manager
Department of Transportation, Planning Division
JEFF LONG, Senior Transit Planner
Department of Transportation, Planning Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve two Title VI Fare Equity Analyses for the Department of Transportation/Fresno Area Express (FAX), including (1) an updated analysis of the new fare structure enacted in September 2021 which now contains a determination on free fares for veterans and active-duty military, and (2) an analysis of temporary free fares for Reduced Fare riders.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, staff recommends that Council approve:
(1) the Title VI Fare Equity Analysis: New Fare Structure, and (2) the Title VI Fare Equity Analysis: Free Fares for Reduced Fare Riders, funded by Kaiser Permanente Fresno until Funds are Expended.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Whenever FAX proposes changes to its fare or fare media, FAX is required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to prepare a Title VI Fare Equity Analysis. The purpose of the Title VI analysis is to evaluate how the fare changes impact low-income and minority populations and identify strategies to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any disproportionate burdens, disparate impacts, or any potentially negative outcomes.
In September 2021, FAX implemented a fare change, reducing the cost of a base fare from $1.25 to $1.00. FAX also decreased fares for seniors 65 and older, disabled, and Medicare cardholders on both fixed route service and paratransit. In addition, children under 12 as well as veterans and active-duty military members with proper ID were designated to ride for free. The original Title VI Fare Equity Analysis, approved by the City Council on October 14, 2021, found that there were no disparate impacts or disproportionate burdens, except possibly for the free fare...
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