Orange County Transit Goes Zero Fare
RTA members and partners,
This week the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved a one year pilot program, beginning on January 2, for all Orange County Public Transportation (OCPT) fixed transit routes to implement a zero fare policy.
“Implementing a fare-free pilot for our fixed-route services may allow us to better serve our community by removing cost barriers, improving efficiency, and providing a more seamless experience for riders,” said Orange County Board of Commissioners Chair Jean Hamilton.
The county release noted that other national and regional systems have seen ridership gains of up to 30% when transitioning to zero fare service. The release also noted that upon activation of zero fare on January 2nd, OCPT will look for several anticipated operational efficiencies, including faster boarding, improved on-time performance, reduced administrative burden, as well as savings in capital, operating, and maintenance costs associated with fare equipment and collection.
The release noted that those efficiencies “will allow OCPT teams to focus more fully on passenger safety, service reliability, and system performance during the pilot period.”
Sarah Williamson, the interim director of OCPT, stated that the County will gather data on ridership and capacity, and that County Commissioners have indicated that that they are likely to continue offering fare free services beyond a successful pilot in 2026.
Earlier this year Orange County made a significant improvement in public transit by expanding their circulator routes and by going electric. The activation of zero fare service on January 2nd represents an added enhancement by OCPT. Zero fare service is currently available on several systems, including GoCary, Chapel Hill Transit, Go Durham, NCSU Wolfline, Duke University Transit, and now Orange County Public Transportation.
County chair Hamilton stated that “This pilot will help us assess how fare-free service can meet the growing mobility needs of Orange County.”
The regional business community applauds RTA Regional Leadership Team member Orange County Transportation for their ongoing efforts to enhance transit options in the County.
Let’s get moving,
Joe
