Abstract
Transit ridership recovery has been uneven post-pandemic, following an 81% drop in the U.S. between April 2019 and April 2020. Agencies across the U.S. are searching for ways to rebuild trust, attract new riders, and address funding shortfalls. One promising approach has been offering free or reduced-fare programs, particularly for students who represent the next generation of transit users. In fall 2021, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) launched GoPass, which gives students from kindergarten through community college (K–14) at participating schools unlimited free rides on buses and trains. LA Metro designed the program to rebuild ridership, improve transportation access for disadvantaged communities, encourage life-long transit use, and lay the groundwork for seamless electronic payment for younger riders. By winter 2023, more than 241,000 students were enrolled, generating over 1.2 million monthly boardings–making GoPass the largest fareless program for students in the U.S.
