Coalition launches new #FairFares platform to transform Port Authority’s Fare Policy

February 4th, 9am, South Ave & Hay St near MLK East Busway Wilkinsberg Station

Join a strong coalition of organizations as we launch a new #FairFares platform to transform Port Authority’s fare system to be affordable, accessible, and equitable for all riders in Allegheny County. This platform is the culmination of years of advocacy from thousands of Pittsburgh transit riders and partner organizations – from community actions around fare enforcement, to rallies supporting free transfers, to petitions for Fare Capping and lower cash fares – and has been led by Pittsburghers for Public Transit, the Alliance for Police Accountability, Casa San Jose, Just Harvest, and the Thomas Merton Center.

The coalition will launch the #FairFares platform on February 4th, 9am at South Ave & Hay St near MLK East Busway Wilkinsberg Station. This day marks the anniversary of Rosa Parks’s birth. It is celebrated in cities across the country as Transit Equity Day to honor and uphold her legacy. It is with her legacy and the legacy of other civil rights leaders that the #FairFares Coalition puts forward this work.

You’re invited to join the #FairFares Coalition as we launch this new campaign on 2/4 to build a fare system that works for all riders.

Endorse the #FairFares Platform

For equity, for dignity, for freedom to move.

Read the full platform below and sign your name to support.

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#FairFares: its what our county needs to make transit accessible for all

Guiding principles on which the coalition puts forward this campaign:

Public transit is a public utility and a human and civil right. Public transit can not be structured as a fee-for-service model or as a business. Riders create a healthier and more sustainable environment in Allegheny County by choosing public transit over single-occupancy vehicles.

Corporations and large regional non-profits must pay their fair share of the cost of funding public transit because they disproportionately benefit from the service. Fares must not be a primary mechanism for funding public transit.

Fares must not be a barrier to access to public transit, so policies must be enacted to eliminate any barriers due to cost, convoluted cost structures, inaccessible fare payment systems, and hostile or overly punitive fare enforcement policies. Fares must be equitable, effectively communicated, and easily accessible to people regardless of income, age, race, gender, ability, language, geographical location, and immigration status. The current fare structure disproportionately impacts classes that must be protected by civil rights law.

#FairFares Campaign Policy Proposals

Guided by these principles, riders and the #FairFares Coalition worked to research and document dozens of opportunities for improvement to the transit fare system along four central planks: fare cost, fare enforcement, fare payment processes, and fare incentive programs.

Each plank begins by documenting the current conditions for Port Authority riders. Before layout out the #FairFares Coalition’s values for the plank. Finally, each plank goes on to lay out both short-term and long-term goals to improve the fare system for riders and for our communities.

1. Fare Cost (What people pay for fares)

How is the system currently structured?

$2.50 on Connect Card

$2.75 with cash

$1.00 for first transfer under the CONNECT card within 3 hours

Cash users pay full fare for each transfer

$1.25 fare for riders with disabilities

$1.25 fare for children 6-12

Free for seniors and children under 6.

Cost is bundled into the tuition for university students at Pitt, Chatham University and CMU. Free for PPS students.

Fare Cost: #FairFares Coalition Values

No one should be prohibited from taking transit because of the cost.

Fare structure must center the most vulnerable people, and not privilege the commutes or access to the basic needs of those with the most resources.

Fare Cost: Short-term Goals

Free transfers

Fare capping (CONNECT card automatically converts to a daily/weekly/monthly/yearly pass when the cost of the pass is paid in single uses.)

Ubiquitous access to the CONNECT card, but cash fares should be the same as CONNECT card fares in the interim

Fare Cost: Long-term Goals

Low-income fare program

Free transit for people under 18

Free fares for riders with disabilities

Free fares system-wide by 2030

2. Fare Payment Process (How people pay and access fares)

How is the system currently structured?

Riders can pay via cash, ConnectCard, Senior Pass, Student Pass, and Discount pass

ConnectCards can be purchased from a Giant Eagle and other authorized vendors, at the Port Authority Transit Center, at CONNECT Card kiosks, or online.

Port Authority Mobile App is pending.

Fare Payment Process: #FairFares Coalition Values

Fare payment must be easily accessible and equitable for everyone in all forms regardless of socio-economic status, language, ability, banking status, proximity to CONNECT card kiosks, and access to the internet. Cash payment must always be an option.

Fare Payment Process: Short-term Goals

Release of an equitable mobile app, including enabling fare capping, access for un-banked users, and information in multiple languages.

Ubiquitous CONNECT card access

Passes that start when you tap not by the calendar.

Fare Payment Process: Long-term Goals

Ability to load fares onto cards while on the bus

Ability to pay for multiple fares and fare types on 1 card

Ability to access money loaded onto your CONNECT Card immediately.

Fare payment process must be compatible with transit agencies across the 10 County region, ACCESS and Healthy Ride

Policy of fare payment before boarding on the station platform must be implemented on the T, the busways and the future BRT (also known as off-board fare payment).

CONNECT card kiosks must have several language options.

There needs to be a reporting mechanism for documenting broken CONNECT card machines.

3. Enforcement of Fare Payments

How is the system currently structured?

The first offense is documented but not prosecuted. The second offense can result in up to a $300 criminal penalty for criminal trespass. The third offense can result in a misdemeanor and up to 30 days in jail. All incidents are run through the police database.

There is no appeal process within Port Authority.

Armed Port Authority police enforce fare payment, but any fines paid or criminal proceedings take place in the municipality where the incident occurred.

Enforcement of Fare Payment: #FairFares Coalition Values

Everyone deserves to be safe on transit

Non-payment should lead to additional resources, not punishment

Enforcement must be done equitably

Enforcement of Fare Payment: Short-term Goals

Civilian, multilingual fare “ambassadors” rather than armed police fare enforcers.

Make fare evasion a non-criminal offense, like parking violations, with low fines and community service as an option.

Port Authority should have a policy of non-communication with ICE

Enforcement of Fare Payment: Long-term Goals

Civilian fare ambassadors, when encountering possible fare evasion, should instead direct riders on how to pay their fare, and help riders who are eligible for low-income fares sign up for the program.

Riders should have the option to load any fines levied as a result of fare evasion directly onto the rider’s CONNECT Card.

There needs to be a public, annual audit of fare enforcement impact across gender, race, ability, and economic status.

Port Authority needs to implement independent civilian oversight commissions for fare ambassadors and Port Authority police.

4. Fare Incentive Programs

How is the system currently structured?

Bus passes are purchased in bulk for CMU and Pitt students. The Universities are charged 50% per use.

Pre-tax transit passes available through some employers

Pittsburgh Public School purchases in bulk for high school students

Fare Incentive Programs: #FairFares Coalition Values

Incentive programs make public transit a more convenient and attractive transportation option than single-occupancy vehicles

Fare incentive programs should be designed to increase ridership, not profit.

Programs need to center vulnerable and protected classes, and redistribute the cost of fares onto corporations, developers, and other agencies.

Fare Incentive Programs: Short-term Goals

Shakespeare Giant Eagle campaign: Calling for parking reductions to pay for bulk bus passes for residents, deepened housing affordability, food justice goals and bike/ped improvements.

Regular Free Fare Days over the Summer of 2021 funded by the Health Department’s Clean Air Fund.

Fare Incentive Programs: Long-term Goals

Enable bulk transit pass packages for corporations, events and conferences, cultural orgs, universities, and developers.

Discount pricing for off-peak hours and weekends to bolster ridership

Family passes

Free transit on RADical days funded by the County RAD tax.

Join the #FairFares Coalition on February 4th to launch this new campaign to build a fare system that works for all riders. RSVP HERE