BACKGROUND

TCRP Report 10: Fare Policies, Structures, and Technologies (1995) explored developments and issues of fare policies, structures, and technologies. The report presented the experiences of transit agencies in selecting and using various approaches, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of emerging payment technologies.  Subsequently, TCRP Report 94: Fare Policies, Structures, and Technologies: Update (2003) provided a revision and update to TCRP Report 10. Since 2003, TCRP has managed research and published reports covering fare payment policies and programs, including fare-free transit, multimodal fare integration and fare capping. However, although the transit fare payment landscape has drastically changed, no major study has evaluated the state of fare policies, structures, and technologies.

Agencies need guidance and best practices on new ways of thinking about fares and fare products, including innovative concepts unlocked by the latest fare payment technologies. Since TCRP Report 94, technological innovations in open payments, mobile technology, near-field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, and cashless transactions offer opportunities to improve the ease of transit fare payment. 

OBJECTIVE

The research objective is to update TCRP Report 94 and provide a comprehensive review of fares: policies, structures, products, payment technologies, and integrations. This will include summaries of and references to other TCRP publications on fare structures and technologies since TCRP Report 94.

STATUS: A research agency has been selected for the project. The contract has been executed.